Author: Archive

TI Logistics Briefing & News: K+N continues to expand across all sectors

Posted by | Oct 30, 2006 | |

Swiss based logistics group Kuehne + Nagel has released its results for the first nine months of 2006. Turnover increased 31.8 per cent to CHF 13,289 million (*8,362m). Its operating profit (EBITDA) improved 53.1 per cent to CHF 611 million (*384m).

According to management, business performance during the period was characterised by strong growth in sea and airfreight particularly in the third quarter, as well as business expansions in contract logistics and overland operations as a result of the integration of recent acquisitions.

Seafreight activities recorded a 19 per cent rise in volumes due to a growth in container volumes on all trade lanes. The company put a 4.2 per cent EBITDA margin, up from 3.5 per cent, down to productivity improvements through intensified electronic data exchange with customers and shipping lines as well as stringent cost management. The operational result rose 36.8 per cent year-on-year.

Following a strong third quarter, Kuehne + Nagel’s airfreight business recorded an 11 per cent increase in tonnage. Despite pressure on prices due to what management described as the highly competitive market and lower rates, Kuehne + Nagel maintained a stable EBITDA margin at 4.5 per cent and improved its operational result by 15.3 per cent.

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An Post chiefs step down in huge shake-up

Posted by | Oct 29, 2006 | |

An Post has parted company with its chief operating officer, Larry Donald, and commercial director, Derek Kickham. Both were former ESB managers and had been brought in by the former chief executive Donal Curtin, also from the ESB, three years ago to head his controversial overhaul of the postal group.

Donald has already left the company and Kickham is expected to depart within the next few months. Both their titles have been scrapped under a new organisational structure announced last week by Donal Connell, who replaced Curtin in early July.

The sales and marketing, and retail operations managers, who until now have reported to Kickham, have become part of the group’s top line of management — answerable to Connell.

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DHL boosts Asia Air Network with service upgrade for Hong Kong-Nagoya route

Posted by | Oct 29, 2006 | |

DHL,a leading express and logistics company, has boosted its dedicated overnight service between Hong Kong and Nagoya by replacing its existing A330-200 passenger aircraft service with an Airbus A300-600F aircraft operated by Air Hong Kong, which DHL has a 40 percent stake in.

The new freighter – which will continue to ply between Central Japan International Airport (Centrair) located in the Chubu region of central Japan, and DHL’s Central Asia Hub at the Hong Kong International Airport – has a capacity of 45 tons, which represents an increased capacity of 125 percent, or 25 tons, from the previous belly space agreement with Cathay Pacific, and it offers more than two times the current processing capacity.

The ten times weekly service will commence operations from 29 October 2006, further strengthening DHL’s Asia Air Network. DHL’s air network currently comprises 30 destinations, served by over 20 aircraft in dedicated air operations. This allows major Asia Pacific cities and other business centers to be interconnected through DHL’s regional hubs and gateways, providing DHL’s customers with overnight services across the region.

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Will there be any post offices left when I get old? – Save our post offices campaign

Posted by | Oct 29, 2006 | |

Britain’s 14,300 post offices are fighting for their very survival. The Government is starving the network of vital funding in a move that could leave it with as few as 4,000 branches in the next decade. But many communities are putting up a fight. Toby Walne visited the Isle of Wight to find how the bestserved region in the country is aiming to keep it that way.

They are a belligerent bunch on the Isle of Wight. Faced with a Government that seems determined to smash Britain’s post office network, the islanders have fought back by issuing a ‘unilateral declaration of independence’, calling for their post offices to be removed from Royal Mail control.

And there is good reason to fight. The island has 52 branches serving 120,000 people, which is one for every 2,308 residents and almost double the national average.

But that does not include the 2.6 million ‘grockles’ tourists – who holiday on the island every year and often use the post office network. Yet the Government is poised to destroy this thriving network, allowing the closure of 35 branches, leaving only 17 post offices by 2010.

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Loylogic and Empost form strategic alliance

Posted by | Oct 29, 2006 | |

The agreement was signed between Mamoun Masarweh, General Manager Loylogic Middle East, and Sultan Al Midfa, CEO of Empost. Empost will now be the official courier service provider for Loylogic’s Middle East operations.

Loylogic is a leading reward services provider, helping clients worldwide to differentiate their loyalty programs, combining loyalty expertise with technology and a fast-growing reward partner network. Loylogic is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, Loylogic’s Middle East office is located in Dubai.

Empost, the UAE’s national courier company, has signed a strategic agreement with Loylogic, reward services provider for frequent flier, credit card and coalition loyalty programs. Under the agreement, Empost will offer Loylogic its range of express courier services to deliver rewards to the latter’s clients throughout the Middle East.

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First class delivery for La Poste bond despite status doubt

Posted by | Oct 27, 2006 | |

La Poste issued its first capital markets transaction this week after an absence of two years, achieving attractive funding on the Eu1.8bn two tranche bond, despite discussions in Brussels on the company’s future status as a state supported entity.

The deal was massively oversubscribed, the Eu800m seven year tranche receiving orders of Eu1.6bn, and the Eu1.bn 15 year tranche oversubscribed to the tune of Eu2.7bn, reflecting the revival in demand for long dated securities.

Both segments were priced at the tight end of guidance by joint leads Bardays Capital, Deutsche Bank, Ixis, JP Morgan and Natexis Banques Populaires.

Proceeds of this transaction will be used to make an exceptional contribution of Eu2bn to a reformed pension system of the company’s civil servant employees.

La Poste, which is 100% owned by the French state, enjoys the status of an Etablissement Public Administratif. However, the European Commission has recommended that the French state withdraw its guarantee on La Poste’s debt. The company will also be forced to relinquish its monopoly on postal services in France when the industry is liberalised in 2009.

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Toll aims to buy Chinese logistics firms

Posted by | Oct 27, 2006 | |

Toll Holdings, Australia’s leading transport and logistics group, is seeking to acquire logistics companies in China to expand its growing Asian business. It also plans to use its majority stake in domestic airline Virgin Blue to grow its air freight business.

Toll CEO Paul Little told the company’s AGM this week that Toll was continuing to seek small “ bolt-on” acquisitions to enhance its Asian services. Speaking later to Australian media, he said any deals in China would be “very significant” in terms of bringing value to its transport and logistics services, particularly from China to Australia.

The Australian market leader recently re-branded SembLog, the Singapore-based logistics company it acquired earlier this year, as Toll Asia in order to set the stage for expanding its logistics business through Asia. China is now a major importer of Australian raw materials while Australia imports large amounts of Chinese-made products.

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Posten AB – Increased demand and continued strong performance

Posted by | Oct 27, 2006 | |

Posten’s business is growing and delivering good results. The group’s sales increased by 9 percent and operating earnings increased by SEK 659m to SEK 1,601m for the year’s first nine months compared to the same period in 2005. Our more intensive efforts on the market have shown results.We have also been able to use the potential created by Sweden’s strong economy, the flourishing advertising market, and the increasing domestic and global trade, all of which result in increased demand for our communication and logistic solutions.

Strålfors became a part of the group on May 22nd. The integration process, which aims to encourage and develop the business synergies was initiated in June and is running according to plan. Strålfors’ broad geographic base in Europe means that Posten has a stronger and more diverse range of services for Swedish companies while we have also solidified our position in the information logistics market.

On October 31st, the Swedish National Post and Telecom Agency will submit its report to the government, in which it will more specifically define the requirement for nationwide cashier services and provide an overview of different user groups’ needs for payment services. My hope is that the government will soon declare its position on the suggestions submitted by this agency, thereby reducing the uncertainty for the employees and customers at the Cashier Service.

Our success on the logistics market requires that we offer our own attractive logistics services in the Nordic region, and that we establish competitive cooperation in international networks. As of January 1st 2007, Posten will have a new corporate structure. It will mean a more intensive focus in each market area, with the goal of making us an even more clearly defined and competitive business partner for our customers.

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