Intermodal

Nippon Express Holdings (NX Group) has entered into an investment and business cooperation agreement with AGRIST Inc., a startup developing AI and robotic smart farming technologies. The collaboration aims to address agricultural challenges related to labor shortages and an aging farmer population in Japan, where the average age of farmers is 68. AGRIST creates robotic harvesting systems and software to improve agricultural efficiency and improve global food security.

Gebrüder Weiss has expanded its logistics centre in Tbilisi by 13,000 m², strengthening its position in the Caucasus and responding to the growing trade turnover between Europe and Central Asia. The official opening ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Georgia Levan Davitashvili.

The increase in grain exports was discussed at a meeting of the government of Kazakhstan. Managing Director of JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy Bauyrzhan Urynbasarov reported that 6.6 million tons of grain were shipped in the first nine months of 2024, which is 21% less than in the same period last year. At the same time, the export of flour and other milled products amounted to 2.7 million tons, an increase of 21%.

Yusen Logistics France has opened a new logistics centre in Dunkirk. The ceremony was attended by Yusen Logistics Group President Hiroyuki Okamoto, Japanese Ambassador to France Makita Shimokawa, as well as representatives of local authorities and ports. With this move, the company strengthens its position in Northern France and expands its influence internationally.

Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan Marat Karabayev held a meeting with the head of the South Korean logistics company LX Pantos, Lee Yong Ho. During the negotiations, issues of expanding container transportation through Kazakhstan in the direction of Europe and back, as well as the participation of LX Pantos in existing and new transit routes were discussed.

CFL multimodal, together with the MAHART Container Center Terminal and VTG Hungary, are launching a new intermodal rail route between Budapest and Bettembourg-Dudelange. The project is supported by the Association of Hungarian Logistics Centres (MLSZKSZ). The train is scheduled to start operating in the first quarter of 2025, with four weekly journeys carrying containers and semi-trailers.

China officially joined the Middle Corridor, which was announced in September 2024 at the 8th International Silk Road Expo in Xi’an. The participation of China Railway Container Transport Corporation (CRTC) plays an important role in this process. This move reflects China’s strategy to reduce its dependence on sea routes passing through geopolitically unstable areas such as the Strait of Malacca.

DHL Supply Chain has extended its cooperation with Volkswagen Slovakia for five years, strengthening its position in automotive logistics. The partnership, which began in 2010, has successfully passed the selection process and received a new contract to service the Volkswagen plant in Bratislava.

A new round of applications for funding for transport projects under the EU Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme has opened. €2.5 billion is being allocated for the development and modernisation of transport infrastructure in EU countries, as well as Ukraine and Moldova. The funds are expected to help expand the trans-European transport network (TEN-T).

A consultative meeting of heads of railway administrations dedicated to the creation of the International Association “Eurasian Transport Route” (ETR) was held in Baku. It was attended by representatives of railway departments of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, China and Austria. The main topic of discussion was the creation of the structure of the new organization, working groups, as well as issues of route digitalization, commerce and logistics.