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European air cargo demand continues to fall following EU's stricter import rules

Air cargo demand from China and Europe continued to fall last week partly as a result of the Euorpean Union's new rules around the import of e-commerce goods. The latest figures from data provider WorldACD show that in the week ending 2 August (week 31), volumes from China to Europe were down 5% compared with a week earlier, while from Hong Kong there was a 3% decline. The data firm said that for July as a whole, volumes from "e-commerce-driven" Hong Kong to are down 19% compared with June and 24% year on year. From China to Europe, volumes in July were less affected than Hong Kong drop-off but are still down 3% compared with June and 6% behind last year's levels. The drop-off comes after the EU ended its tariff-free exemptions on goods valued less than €150 by adding a €3 charge per item. "Spot rates from both China and Hong Kong to Europe during that same six-week period have also been in persistent decline," WorldACD added in a market review. The lower volumes are also affecting pricing, with average spot rates from Hong Kong to Europe falling from US$5.80 per kg in mid to late June to $4.96 per kg in week 31. From China rates are down from $5.43 per kg in week 25 to $3.86 per kg in week 31. Rates from both origins to Europe are higher than last year in week 31 - up 2% from China dn 7% from Hong Kong - but this is down on the 25% difference of the previous three months. Elsewhere, "spot rates from many parts of Asia Pacific to Europe remain at highly inflated levels compared with this time last year, including from Taiwan (33% year on year), Vietnam (39% year on year) and Thailand (32% year on year)", WorldACD said. "But the fall in spot rates to Europe from China and Hong Kong in recent weeks has narrowed the overall increase versus last year for Asia Pacific to Europe spot rates from 39% in week 25 to just 17% in week 31," it added.

DHL Express invests in China with expanded facility and new flight

DHL Express has expanded its presence in Shenzhen and added a new China-Southeast Asia-Europe flight as part of efforts to capitalise on fast-growing data centre and pharma demand. The expansion of the firm's Shenzhen "Super" Gateway facility at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport came at a cost of €177m and has tripled processing capacity to approximately 900 tons per day. The expanded facility will support cross-border trade, e-commerce shipments and time-definite international express services. Meanwhile, the express firm has also added a new dedicated air route with a widebody Boeing 767 freighter linking Shanghai, Bangkok, Bahrain and Brussels. DHL said that the new service launch comes as demand is growing among customers in sectors such as technology, industrial manufacturing, semiconductors, healthcare, data centre infrastructure and new energy, "many of which rely heavily on manufacturing and supplier networks in China and across Asia". DHL said the new service would also support its recently expanded Heavyweight Express offering that moves larger shipments through the DHL Express international time-definite network. The company said that while supply chains are becoming increasingly diversified, China remains an important hub for "manufacturing, sourcing, innovation and consumption, and continues to play a significant role in international trade and regional supply chains". DHL Express chief executive John Pearson said: "Global supply chains continue to adapt to changing economic conditions, geopolitical disruption and evolving customer requirements. "Our focus is on ensuring customers have the flexible, reliable and high-quality logistics networks they need to connect with suppliers, production locations and consumers around the world. "These investments enhance the connections between China and global markets and reinforce DHL's role as the logistics partner of choice for international e-commerce and fast-growing sectors such as data centre and semiconductor logistics, life sciences and healthcare and new energy."

Ceva Logistics - IT breach dents confidence further, several BCOs exposed

Data retention practices and third-party dependencies at major 3PLs face an unprecedented reckoning after a cyberattack on CMA CGM's logistics arm Ceva Logistics compromised eight European warehouses, spilling customer delivery metadata across multiple consumer brands, financial institutions, and platforms. The breach at Ceva Logistics - which took place between late July and early August - has proven to be far more than an isolated incident for a single shipper. While initial attention focused on European buyers of Valve Steam ...