iPort Rail, located within the iPort logistics development in Doncaster, is poised for substantial growth in 2024 under the management of Verdion. Nestled in the northern reaches of England, this versatile freight terminal has become a top choice for multimodal freight operators, benefiting from its strategic proximity to the East Coast Main Line.
In its most recent weekly market data analysis, Xeneta, a platform specializing in ocean and air freight rate benchmarking and market analytics, suggests that the global air cargo industry may experience a new economic growth cycle in 2024. The industry concluded the previous year with a notable +9% year-on-year increase in demand, leading to the highest air cargo spot rate in nine months. Niall van de Wouw, Chief Airfreight Officer at Xeneta, acknowledges that while terming 2024 a ‘new dawn’ might be overly optimistic, it indeed marks the beginning of a fresh cycle for airlines, forwarders, and shippers. The anticipated stability in the market is expected to enable shippers to make more accurate predictions regarding transportation costs for their products.
Cargotec’s division, Kalmar, has secured a significant agreement to deliver 12 empty container handlers to Star Container Services B.V., a prominent global logistics service provider. These cutting-edge units are slated for deployment at the Rotterdam Maasvlakte terminal, aligning seamlessly with Star Container Services’ strategic investment in its cargo-handling fleet. This move aims to fortify operations in anticipation of a substantial increase in container volumes at Maasvlakte, Rotterdam’s state-of-the-art port facility. The delivery is expected in the second quarter of 2024, with the order being part of Cargotec’s Q4 2023 order intake and inclusive of an extensive six-year Kalmar Complete Care service contract.
The labor dispute between Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the Union of German Locomotive Drivers (GDL) has escalated into a legal battle, as DB argues that the union is incapable of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and should be “prohibited from striking,” now the case is under the jurisdiction of the Hessian Labor Court.
In 2023, the freight volume on the Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) networks reached 257.3 million tons, exceeding the previous year’s figure by 5 million tons. Exports increased by 9%, reaching 85.8 million tons. It is noteworthy that the domestic loading of coal remained stable at the 2022 level, totaling 74 million tons, while coal exports reached 31.7 million tons.
The global container fleet increased its capacity by approximately 2 million TEU in 2023, with half of this increase coming from MSC. The company is actively investing in expanding its fleet, having received 14 Megamax vessels with a volume of 24 thousand TEU and 26 Neopanamax vessels with a volume of about 15 thousand TEU. Orders for future deliveries amount to more than 1.5 million TEU, indicating intentions to continue to expand the fleet.
In recent developments, a significant number of sea-faring vessels, particularly container ships originating from the Middle East and South East Asia, have been rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope. Consequently, container ships now face prolonged voyage durations ranging from eight to twelve days, while bulk carriers are encountering delays spanning eleven to eighteen days. The shipping distance between Singapore and Rotterdam via the Suez Canal amounts to 8,288 nautical miles (15,349 km), in contrast to the 11,755 nautical miles (21,770 km) through the Cape of Good Hope. The Port of Rotterdam Authority estimates a potential reduction of around 1.25 million tonnes in throughput volume for December due to these disruptions, with potential repercussions for container throughput and liquid bulk transshipment.
Starting from January 2024, a new truck parking area, P2, will be opening in the Sermin region, situated close to Truck Gate 2 – Sermin. Concurrently, the existing parking zone will cease operations, and all services will be relocated to the new P2 (Sermin) location. Additionally, a new truck parking area, P3, adjacent to Truck Gate 3 – Bertoki, will also be inaugurated.
The Port of Gdańsk has invested over PLN 82 million in the ongoing development of its Inner Port, aligning with the long-term investment strategy of the Management Board. This initiative aims to enhance communication around the Przemysłowe Quay, optimize cargo handling, and facilitate the commercialization of new investment areas. While the Outer Port sees advancements in deep-water terminals, the Inner Port undergoes a universal upgrade, having recently completed a crucial project deepening the fairway and upgrading over 5 km of quays.
Latvia’s Ministry of Transport plans to invest approximately 175 million euros in the Rail Baltica project for 2024, with 115 million euros secured through EU funding. The primary focus will be on advancing the design of the Rail Baltica mainline and continuing construction efforts, expanding the mainline beyond Latvia’s capital, Riga. Transport Minister Kaspars Briškens emphasized the project’s transition to the construction phase across all Baltic states, aiming to connect the Baltic states with Poland by 2030.
