European container ports are unlikely to be able to maintain the strong growth rates of the past three decades, Fitch Ratings says. Combined with the trend for ever-larger ships making fewer unloading stops, this makes risks highest for small- and medium-sized ports. These could be drawn into a price war in times of falling volumes, or could miss out on cargo even if they invest to accommodate larger ships. These risks are already factored in to our ratings in the sector. Since 1985 European … [Read more...] about EU port volumes set to slip
Asia
Evergreen increases Asia-East Africa routes
To offer a more comprehensive service on the Asia-East Africa trade, Evergreen Line will adjust its existing AEF joint service and enter into a slot exchange agreement with CMA CGM and Emirates Shipping Line on their ASEA service. Both moves will take effect in December. Evergreen said that this increased cooperation with service partners will double its sailing frequency on the Asia - East Africa trade to twice weekly, one dedicated to Mombasa (Kenya) and the other one to Dar es Salaam … [Read more...] about Evergreen increases Asia-East Africa routes
A350 XWB embarks on demo tour of Asia
New airliner A350-900 took off today from Toulouse for its very first demo tour taking it on an 11-day trip around Asia. This Asian Demo Tour follows the completion of the A350-900 flight test campaign which recently led to the EASA and FAA type certification. After visiting Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia earlier this year during the route proving certification exercise, the A350-900 will now visit more airports and customers in Asia Pacific to demonstrate the aircraft’s … [Read more...] about A350 XWB embarks on demo tour of Asia
The future of Asian airline aircraft demand
While Asian carriers may have excess capacity in the short term, Steve Mason, vice president of aircraft analysis at CIT Aerospace, notes that since traffic is projected to grow by 6 per cent annually, the region will need approximately 13,000 new aircraft over the next 20 years. These views and others are presented in “Clear Skies or Turbulence Ahead for the Asian Aircraft Order Book?”, the latest piece of market intelligence to be featured in the CIT Executive Insights series. … [Read more...] about The future of Asian airline aircraft demand
Drewry: shipping volumes to hit one billion teu by 2020
Drewry Maritime has said that exponential growth anticipated in Asia, and in particular China, will help drive container throughput by an average 5.5 percent, or 40 percent in total, between now and 2020, resulting in container volumes handled by ports worldwide to increase to up to one billion teu by the end of the decade, up from 623 million teu in 2013. Transhipment volumes are expected to contribute significantly to the total, increasing by 140 million teu, or 83 percent, from 175 … [Read more...] about Drewry: shipping volumes to hit one billion teu by 2020
Thales inaugurates innovation hub in Singapore
Thales has inaugurated the Thales Innovation Hub Singapore, which represents the Group’s first multidisciplinary innovation centre outside of Europe. The concept behind this hub is to seek inspiration from Asian concepts, innovation and thinking, to arrive at a deeper understanding of the operational needs of clients in the region, and design new products and services that address these specific requirements. The Thales team will engage customers in user centered innovation, … [Read more...] about Thales inaugurates innovation hub in Singapore