World Trade articles from October 2006

World Trade archives from October 2006

Quote of the month.
October 1, 2006... "The reprints came and they look awesome! They will be very much appreciated at the trade show this weekend!"

Election day 2006.(INSIDE WORLD TRADE)
October 1, 2006... Partisan politics are off limits in these pages but, as the United States heads into mid-term elections, one thing seems safe to say: no matter who wins, the geopolitical equilibrium, which has provided such a hospitable context for world trade...

Shipping containers continue to transform the wealth of nations.(POLICY PERSPECTIVES)
October 1, 2006... The revolutionary days of container shipping were over by the early 1980s. Yet, the aftereffects of the container revolution continue to reverberate. The prices of electronics, clothing, and other consumer goods tumbled as imports displaced...

New air cargo security rules effective December 1.(AIR)(Transportation Security Administration)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The Transportation Security Administration's new air cargo security rules are set to go into effect on December 1, providing a few measures in the rules can be clarified in time. Although the rules do not call for the mandatory physical...

Improved forecast for air cargo carriers.(AIR)(International Air Transport Association )(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The International Air Transport Association has upwardly revised its forecast for the airline industry due to stronger demand for air cargo and higher passenger load factors. North American carriers are expected to return to operating...

Progress on Heartland Corridor project.(RAIL)(federal funding for the Heartland Corridor double-stack rail project)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The Federal Highway Administration has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, and Norfolk Southern Corporation for $95 million in federal funding for the Heartland Corridor double-stack rail project. ...

Intermodal traffic sets record.(RAIL)(Association of American Railroads reports)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The Association of American Railroads reports that for the week ending August 26, U.S. rail carriers originated 253,981 trailers and containers, beating the previous record of 250,966 units recorded during the week of July 31. Volume was...

Truckers file more than 10,000 e-manifests.(TRUCKING)(Automated Commercial Environment)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Customs and Border Protection's Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) handled more than 10,000 electronic freight manifests in August--a new high for the system. The e-manifests will eventually become the standard method for clearing...

Market for SCM software growing.(supply chain management)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... A new study by AMR Research finds that the supply chain management software market grew 3 percent last year to $5.6 billion. The expansion was boosted by globalization, leaner supply networks, increased customer expectations, more mass...

World's largest box ship sets sail.(OCEAN)(main benefit is that they can reduce the cost per container)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The 11,000-TEU Emma Maersk made its maiden voyage last month, leaving its home in Aarhus, Denmark for Singapore with several stops along the way. Standing twelve stories high, the huge ship can carry 57 percent more cargo than Maersk's...

Huge potential for 3PL providers.(OUTSOURCING CHINA'S LOGISTICS)(research firm and consultancy Transport Intelligence)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... A survey of 230 executives by research firm and consultancy Transport Intelligence finds there's massive potential in the Chinese logistics market for integrated contract logistics companies. According to the survey, 68 Percent of...

Transportation Services Index (TSI).(Tradewinds: THE LATEST TRENDS IN THE WORLD OF TRADE)(Table)
October 1, 2006... Transportation Services Index (TSI) Aug. 111.5 Sept. 111.5 Oct. 110.9 Nov. 112.2 Dec. 111.3 Jan. 111.1 Feb. 110.2 Mar. 111.1 Apr. 111.3 May 112.3 June 111.9 July 111.5 The transportation...

Even Chinese companies relocating. (VIETNAM ATTRACTING MANUFACTURERS).
October 1, 2006... Vietnam is getting more attention these days from manufacturers of shoes, garments, and computer chips--just a few of the items that helped China emerge in recent years as the world's 'factory floor.' In fact, Vietnam has become so...

Agreement could expand into free trade pact.(U.S., ASEAN EXPAND TRADE TIES)
October 1, 2006... A trade and investment agreement between the U.S. and the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), signed in August, could pave the way to a free trade pact between the two parties. "The ASEAN region is a very high...

Liberalization will expand services.(U.S.-KUWAIT OPEN SKIES PACT)( U.S. has signed an open skies pact with Kuwait )(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The U.S. has signed an open skies pact with Kuwait that will give air carriers from both countries greater and more flexible access to each other's markets. The open skies pact removes all restrictions on the number and range of commercial...

Pacer promotes Strutz.(Names & News)
October 1, 2006... Pacer International, the North America freight transportation and logistics provider, has promoted Randy Strutz to the position of chief commercial officer of its retail 3PL segment, known as Pacer Global.

VPA's Bray to retire.(Names & News)
October 1, 2006... The Virginia Port Authority's J. Robert Bray, who has served as executive director for the past 28 years, will retire at the end of 2007.

DiConti hired by NCBFAA.(Names & News)
October 1, 2006... Dr. Veronica DiConti has been hired to head the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America's (NCBFAA) national education institute. According to Mary Jo Muoio, NCBFAA president, DiConti will create an online learning program...

MOL America appoints Yoshida.(Names & News)
October 1, 2006... Tsuyoshi Yoshida has been appointed executive vice president and COO of trade management for MOL (America) Inc. In his new position, Yoshida will be responsible for pricing, security, business and network planning, as well as trade...

De Jong tapped by Air France-KLM Cargo.(Names & News)
October 1, 2006... Arend de Jong has been tapped as senior vice president of marketing network for the joint operations of Air France-KLM Cargo. De Jong succeeds Brain Graber, who will take over the position of senior vice president of KLM Benelux.

Auto, farm goods to benefit.(JAPAN-PHILIPPINES FREE TRADE PACT)( trade pact between Japan and the Philippines)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... A free trade pact between Japan and the Philippines, which officials have been trying to hammer out since 2003, has finally received approval. The controversial issues included liberalization of the Philippines' auto and steel industries...

New accession date to be established.(LITHUANIA MISSES EURO ZONE TARGETS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Although Lithuania was hoping to join the twelve members of the euro zone beginning January 1, it has narrowly missed qualifying for membership because of its high inflation. Not to be deterred, the country is expected to soon announce a...

Africa's progress outpaces other regions.(Doing Business 2007)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The World Bank's recently published "Doing Business 2007" shows that many of the world's emerging economies as well as a few industrialized nations have made great strides this past year to make it easier for companies to do business. ...

Could a bust be behind the boom?(Latin America that rely heavily on trade in commodities )(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The big economies of Latin America that rely heavily on trade in commodities are in their fourth consecutive 'boom' year, but some economists predict that the inevitable 'bust' is not far behind. Oil, natural gas, gold, iron ore, and...

Veteran grand champion says competition tougher.(2006 NATIONAL TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS)(National Truck Driving Championship)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Ray Simon has been named the Grand Champion of the American Trucking Association's National Truck Driving Championship three times--an achievement not yet duplicated by another driver. This year's 69th annual competition was held in August...

Advanced screening targets shipping containers.(DHS FUNDS NEW SECURITY SYSTEM)(develop an imaging system that can detect high-density material)(radiological weapon)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Three companies have been awarded contracts worth about $1.35 billion with the Department of Homeland Security to develop an imaging system that can detect high-density material in a container that is concealing a nuclear or radiological...

Application varies from country to country.(TRANSFER-PRICING ENVIRONMENT CHANGING)(Survey)
October 1, 2006... Multinational companies are facing an increasingly complex transfer-pricing environment, according to a recent survey of more than 30 countries' revenue authorities conducted by Ernst & Young LLP. The third installment of the Ernst Young...

Foreign direct investment expected to increase as result.(SOUTH AFRICA PRAISED FOR ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENTS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Conversis, a translation and localization company based in the UK and U.S., has just released an additional country report on South Africa for its Cultural Commentaries: A Closer Look section, on the company's Web site (www....

Five fastest-growing airfreight markets.(BY THE Numbers)
October 1, 2006... Five Fastest-Growing Airfreight Markets (2004-2008) Freight in 3003 Average Annual Mode (in thousand tonnes) Growth Rate (2004-2008) China-Netherlands 36.9 ...

Ground transport upscales into supply chain management: globalization, rising shipper costs and infrastructure constraints push providers to add more services.(SUPPLY CHAIN 2.0)
October 1, 2006... When it comes to logistics and transportation, the lines between services and service providers have become blurred. Transportation companies are becoming 3PLs, logistics providers are stretching into warehousing and distribution, and...

Turning supply chain partners into electronic collaborators: 'adaptive supply chain network' IT provides backbone for customer-centric communities.(SUPPLY CHAIN 2.0)(Ditan Corp.)(usage of SAP tools)
October 1, 2006... For Ditan Corp., a privately-owned, third-party logistics company based in Indianapolis specializing in direct-store retail distribution, meeting extremely tight just-in-time shipping schedules is a matter of survival. Ditan's customers...

Putin's Russia sends out mixed signals: foreign direct investment in Russia is more like a casino than a gold rush.(Vladimir Putin at St. Petersburg Economic Forum )
October 1, 2006... In July, Russian President Vladimir Putin opened the 10th annual St. Petersburg Economic Forum with words that would put a smile on any international investor's face. Stressing the importance of foreign investment in Russia, Putin said, "I hope...

Massive opportunities, massive challenges: railroads could ease the burden of highway congestion, but can the industry deliver?(Rail Challenges)
October 1, 2006... There is no doubt in anyone's mind that long-haul trucking can no longer keep pace with the skyrocketing demand for commercial transportation in the U.S. As last year's report from the U.S. Department of Transportation ("National Freight System...

The reader-to-reader report: ocean survey: shippers demanding more from their ports and ocean carriers as congestion becomes growing concern.
October 1, 2006... Shippers have historically regarded ports as a commodity that came along with their ocean shipping contract. With cargo rates fixed by shipper conventions and port access almost always readily accessible, the only real differentiators for many...

Chalk one up for another successful peak season: this year appears to be trouble-fee, but volumes continue to break records and rail remains a wildcard.(Executive Overview)(Richard Hiller of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. and Chris Chase of Port of Los Angeles)
October 1, 2006... This year's big peak season event was that there was none. Unlike recent years, despite record volumes of freight, things have been moving relatively smoothly and they're been only a few minor hiccups. Given the importance of peak season...

A logistics senior statesman looks at today's supply chains: with transportation systems over-loaded and the need for much better data management, there's room for improvement.(DRIVING THE INTEGRATED GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN FROM THE TOP)(Interview)
October 1, 2006... Chuck Lounsbury is widely respected as one of the grand figures in supply chain from the logistics provider side. Mr. Lounsbury is a recognized industry veteran with more than 30 years of service as both a top executive and college and...

Zen and the art of warehouse management: it's not so much objective knowledge as it is proper attitude.(TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS)
October 1, 2006... Do These Two Ideas Belong Together? We think so! Webster's defines Zen as the experience of "enlightenment by direct intuition...." While neither of us would be comfortable laying claim to enlightenment, we have, both separately and...

The smart way to invest overseas: mitigating categories of risk is key to maximizing global supply chain returns.(Overseas Investments)
October 1, 2006... The public mind is focused on outsourcing--those ships frill of Chinese-made consumer goods clogging their way through the Port of Los Angeles to Wal-Mart and other retailers. But, that focus looks past an equally striking outcome of...

One small loan for man ...
October 1, 2006... "A bank," said Bob Hope," is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don't need it." For the Third World's working poor, that's a definition for financial damnation. But what if friends and family and a proven work record...

The growing costs of compliance: shippers turn to outside help to manage expanding volume of customs and security regulations.(Compliance)
October 1, 2006... Along with the competitive advantages of operating global supply chains comes the burden of conforming to an increasing multitude of trade regulations as goods move across national borders. Added to which, since 9/11, have come rigorous...