The expansion of APL Logistics was given a major boost last week as parent company Neptune Orient Line (NOL) began a programme to raise US$lbn (E1.18bn) through bond issues.
The Singapore-based shipping and logistics giant said the funds would be used to expand the group’s businesses and refinance existing borrowings, but hinted strongly that the bulk would go into the logistics arm.
International forwarder Schenker, Inc. said it opened its first U.S. integrated logistics center in Miami as part of an aggressive expansion strategy in the United States.
Read MoreUPS is to pour more than US$100m ( t117m) into expanding its Cologne hub, despite protests from environmentalists. A UPS spokesman said: “The building is being expanded to position us for the future. We are more than doubling the sort capacity from 60,000 to 135,000 packages an hour.”
Read MoreGeneral manager for TNT in Ireland Philip Bracken, says express companies always notice it first when there is a dip in the economy.
“Analysts look at us in Europe and Ireland as they follow the fortunes of FedEx in the US because we are a good indicator of economic health,” he says.
If that is so, then a short, sharp shock is on the cards. After a strong first quarter in which TNT started operating three aircraft nightly out of Ireland – one aircraft from Dublin which called at Liverpool en route to its Liege hub, and two others from Shannon and Cork. The integrator dropped back to two in early April.
FedEx has introduced a programme for cost reductions, parts of which have already been put into practice.
Read MoreANC is to distribute urgent next-day parcels in the UK for SDS, the distribution arm of the Irish post office, An Post.
In return SDS will handle all ANC’s deliveries in the republic, giving the parcel company access to a countrywide network which includes Ireland’s most advanced automated sorting centre in Dublin and four other regional sorting centres located in Athlone, Portlaoise, Cork and Kilbarrack.
Integrators are feeling the pinch as the dip in the republic’s economy starts to bite, but TNT remains confident of retaining market share General manager for TNT in Ireland Philip Bracken, says express companies always notice it first when there is a dip in the economy.
Read MoreIndian Government: Indo-French postal alliance
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