Intermodal

German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has initiated the sale of DB Schenker, a major logistics provider, in a deal potentially valued at EUR20 billion. Maersk, previously uninterested in acquiring such large forwarding companies, hinted at a reconsideration during its Q4 2023 earnings call. Vincent Clerc, CEO of AP Moller Maersk, acknowledged the significance of the deal’s size and emphasized the need for Maersk to explore the potential acquisition, recognizing its impact on the logistics landscape.

On February 9, 2024, the Annual General Final Meeting of the Union of Transport Workers “KAZLOGISTICS” was held in Kazakhstan. Under the leadership of the Chairman of the Presidium of the Union, Nurlan Sauranbayev, the meeting was attended by representatives of various departments, associations and business communities.

Baltic Hub, the largest container terminal in the Baltic Sea, reflects on a record-breaking 2023 filled with significant investments and new partnerships. The company is optimistic about the future, unveiling ambitious plans for the coming years.

From February 1 to 3, the International Digital Forum DIGITAL ALMATY – 2024 was held in Almaty, which became a key place for discussing digital initiatives and trends in the transport industry. KTZ Express’ participation at the forum allowed the company to study in detail current issues of digital development, including the creation of an integrated EAEU information system for intercountry and transit transportation.

From December 3 to December 10, 2023, Hao Guochi, General Director of International Logistics CRCT Kazakhstan, and his team traveled to Azerbaijan and Georgia to assess the effectiveness of the Caspian route. Launched in 2017, this 11,000-kilometer transport route currently has a capacity of 6 million tons per year, with plans to reach 10 million tons per year by 2025. In 2022, cargo traffic along the route increased 2.5 times, reaching 1.48 million tons.

General Director of STK KAZLOGISTICS Erlan Absatov met with the Ambassador of Lithuania to Kazakhstan, Egidius Navis, to discuss key issues, including the upcoming intergovernmental commission and the activities of the Kazakh-Lithuanian Business Council. The agreement signed in 2022 between the Union of Transport Workers of Kazakhstan and the Confederation of Industrialists of Lithuania implies the strengthening of Kazakh-Lithuanian cooperation.

The European Union, through the CEF2027 program, has approved partial funding for the development of a multimodal railway transshipment hub in the port of Szczecin at Ostrów Grabowski. The Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority secured the CEF-T-2023-MILMOB-WORKS grant, covering 50% of eligible investment costs, totaling EUR 4,351,923.86 or PLN 19,583,653. The overall project cost is EUR 8,975,539.99, equivalent to PLN 40,389,000, with eligible costs valued at EUR 8,703,847.71.

As of February 1, 2024, DKI Logistics A/S and its warehouse investment affiliate, DKI Automatic A/S, will be seamlessly integrated into the Rhenus Warehousing Solutions network following their acquisition at the close of 2022. This strategic rebranding signifies a pivotal phase in assimilating the Danish logistics provider into the Rhenus Group, showcasing an extended array of customer solutions and reinforcing its people-centric approach as a family-owned entity.

Gebrüder Weiss, serving as the official logistics partner of the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), transformed its Maria Lanzendorf facility into a testing ground for the Mars Analog Mission AMADEE-24 from January 26 to 28. During this period, the OeWF research team and Analog astronauts conducted a thorough dress rehearsal, assessing both equipment and scientific experiments for the upcoming mission. The company’s employees and their families had the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the worlds of science, space travel, and future mobility during a special open house event on Sunday, January 28.

AsstrA Hungary, a key player in international logistics and transportation and a division of AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG, has recently become a proud member of the World Cargo Alliance (WCA). This strategic decision reflects AsstrA Hungary’s dedication to broadening its global footprint and cultivating meaningful connections within the dynamic logistics sector. The WCA, renowned as the largest network of independent freight forwarders worldwide, offers AsstrA Hungary an expanded platform for global collaboration and valuable industry insights.