Global Trade News

Move underscores commitment to Europe, establishes regional headquarters and enhances customer base

Alameda, CA and Hamburg, Germany, January 22, 2008 — GT Nexus today announced that it has acquired Metaship AG, an innovative provider of Logistics management Technology for importers, exporters and Third Party Logistics providers (3PLs). The Metaship team and operations, based in Hamburg Germany, are now part of GT Nexus and serve as the company’s headquarters for Europe.

"We think Europe has tremendous growth potential and this acquisition positions us to take full advantage of the opportunity," said Aaron Sasson, CEO of GT Nexus. "Metaship has an impressive list of customers, an outstanding team and a Technology that is very complementary to the capabilities currently available on the GT Nexus portal. With this foundation in place, we are poised to grow rapidly in Europe."

Krasnoyarsk, February, 16, 2008 - A ceremony has taken place at Emelyanovo Airport in Krasnoyarsk in the Russian Far East to mark the opening of a new cargo terminal forecast to evolve into Russia's first world-class multi-modal air cargo hub. The ceremony was attended by project partners – Krasnoyask Territory Administration, AirBridgeCargo Airlines, subsidiary of Volga-Dnepr Group and the principal cargo operator in Krasnoyarsk, Kratos Investment Group and Krasnoyarsk Airlines.

AirBridgeCargo Airlines commenced scheduled cargo services via Krasnoyarsk Airport in November 2004 recognising the unique potential of its geographical position on the shortest routes connecting Europe, Asia and the US and its ability to support extended network deliveries around Russia.

20.02.2008,Zurich – Switzerland: Swiss WorldCargo, the air cargo division of Swiss International Air Lines Ltd., announces a significant increase of air cargo capacity between Zurich and Tel Aviv thanks to the introduction of an additional A-340 on this route.

The new A-340 connection, which will be operated on days 5-6-7 from 9 February to 9 March 2008, will become daily from 12 March 2008. All in all, Swiss WorldCargo will offer around 42 tons of cargo capacity to and from one of the Near East’s most important gateways for air trade.

Israel has developed a broad-based economy with a number of high value-adding sectors. The major industries include high-technology electronic and biomedical equipment, metal products, processed foods, chemicals, and transport equipment. Moreover, the country possesses a substantial service sector and is one of the world's main centers for diamond cutting and polishing.

CMA CGM has signed a memorandum of understanding with Italy’s Fincantieri shipyards, the world’s leading cruise ship builder, for the construction of two luxuriously intimate cruise ships to be operated by the Group’s subsidiary Compagnie des Iles du Ponant (Ponant Cruises) specializing in cultural enrichment and discovery cruises.

These elegantly trim vessels are mega-yachts (140 meters long) that accommodate a limited number of guests (130 all-outside cabins and suites including 75% with balconies). They will be delivered in second quarter 2010 and are to be French flagged. The vessels will be equipped with the latest advances designed to protect the environment including a dynamic positioning system that enables them to avoid damaging the sea floor during mooring.

SAS Cargo presents today the annual result for 2007. It is affected by the hard competition on the key markets, and therefore it does not live up to the record result from 2006. Turnover was 3,355 MSEK (363 MEUR) and profit (EBT) was 22 MSEK (2,4 MEUR).

The air cargo industry is experiencing some big changes these years with consolidation among the customers and over capacity on key markets. SAS Cargo is going through a transition process in order to adapt to these changes. This has affected the result for 2007, which is not at a satisfactory level, says President and CEO of SAS Cargo Group A/S, Kenneth Marx.

2008-02-01, Korea Express outperformed Hyundai Logistics in nine years and emerged as No.1 in the domestic door-to-door delivery market.

According to industry insiders on January 31, annual transaction volumes in 2007 for the four major companies in the domestic door-to-door delivery industry were estimated as following: Korea Express, 122.42 million boxes; Hyundai Logistics, 120.00 million boxes; CJ GLS, 114.00 million boxes; Hanjin, 100.00 million boxes.

Korea Express emerged as the No.1 in the door-to-door delivery market with a whopping 40.00 million box increase in transaction volume within just a year. In 2006, Hyundai Logistics, Hanjin and Korea Express had posted 93.00 million boxes, 86.00 million boxes and 82.66 million boxes, respectively.

Luxembourg, 2 January, 2008 - Following the result of a survey conducted by the Spanish magazine ‘Intertransport’, Cargolux was awarded for the third time ‘Best Cargo Airline in Spain - 2007’. Earlier awards were received in Spain in 2005 and 2003. The criteria for this award are: quality, network, fleet, post sales service and friendliness of staff.

On behalf of Cargolux, Mrs. Merce Saboya, Country Manager Spain, responsible for the company’s Spain operation, together with her managers and staff from Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia, plus representatitves of head office Luxembourg, took on the award at Barcelona’s Maritime Museum on 20 December, 2007. It was handed over by Mr. Fernando Echegaray, Manager of Barcelona Airport, in the presence of around 800 guests. Additional awards were passed on to representatives of the Spanish Seafreight Industry and of the Port of Barcelona.

Highly Experienced Executive to Accelerate Development of Global Trade Management Platform

San Mateo, CA, January 28, 2008—TradeBeam, a leading provider of Global Trade Management (GTM) software, today named Buff Jones the company’s new executive vice president, solutions, engineering and managed services. Jones brings to TradeBeam more than 15 years of executive management experience in the Technology industry and will be responsible for product strategy and implementation.

Jones has held senior positions in engineering, product management and sales, and has been the general manager of a number of business units. Prior to TradeBeam, Jones was executive vice president of products at Macrovision, where she was responsible for product management, development, architecture and technical support of Macrovision’s business-to-business and entertainment software products, both SaaS and deployed. Before Macrovision, Buff was vice president of the WebSphere Business Integration Development group at IBM, where she was responsible for a global team that delivered a solution re-engineered on SOA. Buff has also held senior management positions at CrossWorlds Software, Merant/MicroFocus, Compuware and Candle.

GAC Shipping has formed an alliance agreement with leading ship agent GETMA International in providing ship agency and Logistics services to all types of general, bulk, Ro-Ro, tramp cargo ships and tankers, expanding its network in West Africa. Container lines and markets are excluded from the agreement.

The GAC-GETMA alliance covers all Francophone countries in West Africa including: Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Rep. of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (ex Zaire), Gabon, Guinea (Conakry), Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo, and Mauritania.

Founded in 1978, GETMA International is part of the NECOTRANS GROUP and is present in 23 West African countries through its subsidiaries.

Hanjin Shipping Launches China-India Service

2008-01-30 -- Hanjin Shipping announced today the launch of its new CIS (China-India Service) that will start from the middle of February.

Hanjin Shipping’s CIS, also joined by KMTC (Korea Marine Transport Inc) and CNC (Cheng Lie Navigation), mainly targets the Indian market where demand for sea transport is significantly increasing. Hanjin Shipping expects that the introduction of this new service will ease the shortage of vessel space for cargo to India and simultaneously improve its customer service.

In addition, Hanjin Shipping believes it will create a new source of income considering the possible expansion of the Indian market caused by the economic boost.

747-8 Freighters $270 Million Facility; Available for Pre-Delivery Deposits on First Five of 12 Next-Generation, Wide-Body Freighter Aircraft Scheduled for Delivery in 2010 and 2011
Purchase, NY - February 4,2008 -- Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (AAWW) (Nasdaq: AAWW), a leading provider of global air cargo services, today announced that its subsidiary, Atlas Air, Inc. (Atlas), has closed on a $270 million financing facility in connection with pre-delivery deposit payments (PDPs) on five next-generation Boeing 747-8 wide-body freighters scheduled for delivery to the Company between February and July 2010.

Rapidly growing customer base drives 65 percent increase in profits

WESTPORT, Connecticut, USA (January 31, 2008) - Triple Point Technology®, the leading global supplier of cross-industry commodity and energy trading, risk management and Logistics software platforms, announced today record customer signings for fiscal year 2007. In addition to record customer base expansion, recurring software revenue grew by 72 percent and profits increased by 65 percent.

"It's been another extremely successful year at Triple Point," said Oni Chukwu, Triple Point's chief financial officer. "This year's groundbreaking product enhancements have attracted industry interest and important new clients from across commodities and across the globe. In addition, our recently announced co-development partnership with SAP captured immediate response, winning five new clients for Triple Point in the fourth quarter alone. Our acquisition of CoralGrid also accelerated our Asian expansion. With a strong foundation firmly established, we're looking forward to fueling our growth and surpassing our successes in 2008."

Hamburg, 4 February 2008. For the first time in its more than 135-year history, Hamburg Süd christened a container ship in Tauranga on Sunday, 3 February 2008. Tauranga is the largest port in New Zealand. The "Cap Palliser" is one of a series of five identical 1,819 TEU charter vessels owned by the Claus-Peter Offen shipping company that are to be deployed in the Hamburg Süd Group's liner service between Asia and Australia/New Zealand.

Sponsor of the "Cap Palliser" was Mary Goff, wife of the New Zealand Minister of Defence, Trade, Corrections, Disarmament and Arms Control, and Associated Minister of Finance, Hon. Phil Goff. The ship is named after the southernmost point of New Zealand's North Island.

Leading container lines Evergreen and Maersk are pleased to announce that they have agreed a co-operative agreement on Asia-Europe services commencing March, 2008.

The agreement consists of an exchange of slots between Evergreen's China-Europe-Mediterranean (CEM) service and Maersk's Far East to Europe (AE2) service.

The CEM service rotation 'Ital Contessa 0453-014W / 0453-014E' is as follows:

Kaohsiung - Ningbo - Shanghai - Yantian - Hong Kong - Tanjung Pelepas - Suez Canal - Le Havre - Hamburg - Rotterdam - Thamesport - Port Said (Suez Canal) - Tanjung Pelepas - Kaohsiung.

The AE2 service rotation 'Grete Maersk 0806 / 0807' is as follows:

31 Jan 2008:Paris, - Geocoton Holding, an entity in which Advens and CMA CGM hold a 51% and 49% stake, respectively, is pleased to announce the decision of the Minister of the Economy, Finance and Employment. The minister selected Geocoton Holding’s offer to acquire a 51% stake in Dagris. Once the privatization procedure is completed and the employee representative authorities have been informed and consulted, as required prior to any acquisition, Geocoton Holding will become Dagris’ majority shareholder.

Today, Dagris is an integrated agro-industrial group upstream from textile production with operations spanning the entire cotton value chain. Dagris’ central base of operations is in Africa and Central Asia where it concentrates its resources and know-how in four core business activities: cotton fiber and seed production, cotton fiber sales and quality control, production and sale of oil crops and supply of logistical services.

Container shipping industry launches public awareness drive

London, 10th January 2008 – The global container shipping industry today launches a major public awareness drive with the formation of The Container Shipping Information Service. Its aim is to increase public understanding and appreciation worldwide of the benefits and impact that this hitherto relatively unknown industry has on daily life.

Formed by 24 of the world’s leading container shipping companies incl. Hapag-Lloyd, the initiative is a first for the industry.

For a long time the container shipping industry has remained publicly silent about its role. Yet newly commissioned research1 among key opinion formers has found that the single most important step that the industry could take to improve its image is to promote itself more successfully.

Issued on behalf of Grand Alliance

Hong Kong, 22 January 2008 -- Grand Alliance members Hapag-Lloyd, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) are upgrading a service on the North Europe - North USA Atlantic Trade, in cooperation with ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.

The joint service to be upgraded is the "Atlantic Express" or ATX service. Starting from early March 2008, the service will consist of four vessels of 4,000 TEU capacity, one of which will be provided by ZIM and the other three from the Grand Alliance.

The service offers weekly, fixed day sailings between the North European ports of Rotterdam, Hamburg, Le-Havre, and Southampton, and the US East Coast ports of New York, Norfolk and Charleston.

10 Jan 2008 -- The global container shipping industry today launches a major public awareness drive with the formation of The Container Shipping Information Service. Its aim is to increase public understanding and appreciation worldwide of the benefits and impact that this hitherto relatively unknown industry has on daily life.

Formed by 24 of the world’s leading container shipping companies, the initiative is a first for the industry.

For a long time the container shipping industry has remained publicly silent about its role. Yet newly commissioned research* among key opinion formers has found that the single most important step that the industry could take to improve its image is to promote itself more successfully.

CMA CGM is pursuing its investment policy with the acquisition, on December 31st 2007, of a 12% stake in a future container terminal at the port of Busan, in South Korea.

17 Jan 2008 -- Known as Busan 2-3, the new terminal is expected to become operational in 2011. It will be operated in partnership with Macquarie, Bouygues, Hyundai, KMTC, Busan Port Authority and local operators KUKJE and KCTC.

The new facility will benefit from highly automated equipment able to handle up to 2.7 million TEU each year. Technical characteristics will include a 1400m long quay, 12 container cranes, and a 17m draft offering accessibility to 12 000 TEU capacity container vessels.

GLOBAL logistics, shipping, marine services provider, the GAC Group, says it has opened an offshore Logistics facility 1.5 kilometres outside of Kakinada port and jetty in India.

The 10,000-square metre base is designed to provide neutral support services to India's offshore oil and gas industry based in and around the Kakinada, Yanam and West Godavari districts.

Services include storage and stacking space for drill rigs, platform and provision of a supply vessel together with equipment and materials. The offshore Logistics facility also has its own storage areas, maintenance workshops and a secure warehouse.

BLUE BELL, Pa., October 4, 2007 – Unisys announces that the Air France Cargo network is now available through Unisys-operated Cargo Portal Services (CPS)*, a leading electronic booking and shipment management service for the air cargo industry. Freight forwarders around the world are now able to take advantage of the extensive Air France Cargo - KLM Cargo route network when booking and managing shipments.

“This development builds on KLM Cargo's success with CPS over the last four years. As a merged company, we are committed to offering clients the most suitable electronic tools to do business with us, so it was natural to extend CPS coverage for all clients through our combined network,” said Michael Wisbrun, president, Air France Cargo - KLM Cargo.

On-demand platform used to procure, optimize and manage global transportation spend

Alameda, CA, September 05, 2007 — GT Nexus announced today that Furniture Brands International (NYSE: FBN) is now fully live on the GT Nexus trade and Logistics portal for global transportation management. Delivered on-demand, over the Web, the platform is the system of record for management of the company’s containerized freight network.

Furniture Brands International is one of America’s largest residential furniture companies, with over $2.4 billion in annual sales. The company produces, sources and markets its products under its best-known brand names in the industry – Broyhill, Lane, Thomasville, Henredon, Drexel Heritage and Maitland-Smith.

EL PASO, Texas & CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) announced today the expansion of the FedEx Transborder Distribution service for cross-border trade between Mexico and the U.S.

The enhanced solution provides importers and exporters with a portfolio of FedEx services designed to simplify cross-border trade and help their businesses flourish.

This expansion includes the recent opening of two border facilities – one in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, the other in El Paso, Texas – to help facilitate the flow of goods.

“With this expanded cross-border solution, FedEx looks to simplify the Supply Chain process by managing the transportation, brokerage and distribution of shipments that cross the Mexico-U.S. border on a regular basis,” said Ed Clark, chief executive officer and president of FedEx Trade Networks. “The vision is to create a single point of contact to facilitate the efficiency of the entire process.”

Logistics services provider now tracking and managing containerized shipments across its ocean carrier network

Alameda, CA, August 15, 2007 — GT Nexus announced today that Geodis Wilson has rolled out an ocean shipment management platform through the GT Nexus Trade and Logistics portal. The system enables Geodis Wilson to exchange data between its Freight Monitor visibility system and its global network of ocean carriers.

Geodis Wilson is part of the Geodis Group. With 26,000 employees in a network spanning 120 countries, the Geodis Group ranks among Europe's top five transport and Logistics companies.

ATLANTA, Aug. 9, 2007 - Scott Davis, UPS (NYSE:UPS) vice chairman and chief financial officer, today announced a series of three appointments to key financial posts. Rich Peretz has been named vice president of finance; Teresa Finley the chief financial officer for international operations, and Andy Dolny the vice president of investor relations.

Peretz, 45, most recently has worked as the vice president of international finance. He will to report to Davis and will be responsible for the functions of Treasury, procurement, risk management, investments and mergers and acquisitions.

Finley, 45, has served as UPS's vice president of investor relations since November 2003 and will succeed Peretz, functioning as the chief financial officer for UPS's international operations. She will report to UPS International President Alan Gershenhorn.