Logistics Bulletin

Monday 30 March 2020

This week’s Logistics Bulletin reports on the announcement from CEVA Logistics that it has been forced to declare ‘Force Majeure’. This means that it is temporarily relieved of its normal contractual obligations where these are rendered impossible or impracticable, due to the Coronavirus epidemic and its effects.

This applies to all CEVA Services. Having declared Force Majeure, CEVA Logistics reserves the right to modify all or part of its services, to change its working procedures and any previously agreed rates and prices, to levy surcharges, or otherwise to take any measures necessary to adjust its business operations and its obligations to its customers, suppliers and other stakeholders, in response to the prevailing circumstances.

Elsewhere this week, preliminary traffic figures from Asia show that the region’s air cargo demand held up remarkably well in February 2020, despite the effects of extended factory closures and lockdowns in China crippling the supply and distribution of manufactured goods nationwide and related international trade flows. These declines were partly offset by higher demand for air shipments of intermediate goods, including pharmaceutical and food supplies, within the region. Overall, Asia Pacific airlines registered a 3.0% year-on-year decline in February. For the first two months of the year, international air cargo demand for Asia’s airlines fell by a relatively modest 5.0%.

A message from Analytiqa:

As analysts serving global markets, our clients are being impacted by the Coronavirus / Covid-19 situation to varying extents in different countries. In the current climate, we wanted to ensure all our clients that we will continue to serve them to the best of our ability during the coming weeks. Flexibility in our working practices has been a key part of our business over the last 18 years and our staff regularly work from home or away from the office, with mobiles and laptops. We will continue to provide clients with our usual high standards of service, though we will be prioritising communications by telephone and online conferencing, etc. rather than face-to-face meetings where possible. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Stay safe and well.

Corporate and market news...

• Air freight demand holding up in Asia Pacific
• CEVA Logistics declares Force Majeure
• DB Schenker achieved record results in 2019 for the third year in a row
• Roadrunner sees 2019 revenues fall 16.6% as losses widen
• Core operating profit declines by 23% at Li & Fung
• Royal Mail expects UKPIL losses and significantly reduced GLS profitability
• Mainfreight trading ahead of the prior year
• Waberer’s introduces special cost-cutting measures
• Heathrow’s cargo movements forecast to surge by 53%
• Roadrunner to withdraw from NYSE and Deregister with SEC
• Waberer’s delays 2019 results publication
• Proposed transaction to privatise Li & Fung
• Ruby Has ecommerce fulfilment acquires EasyPost Fulfillment Services

Service developments... 

• COVID-19: impact on capacity, equipment availability and services
• Swiss WorldCargo launches charter flights to support global supply chains
• Nippon Express' East Asia Region launches BCP Solutions
• P&O Ferries reinforces freight operations to secure resilience of Calais-Dover crossing
• Nippon Express receives GDP Certification for temperature-controlled facility in Japan

Outsourcing news...

• Clipper Logistics receives requests for logistics support from non-retail sectors
• Wincanton sees record levels of demand from many of its leading customers
• FedEx stands up special operation to help fight COVID-19

Warehouse and distribution centre developments...

• Omnipack invests in logistics operations in Warsaw
• Nippon Express completes construction of Shah Alam logistics centre
• Langowski Logistics enhances New Silk Road services with facility in Poland

IT, fleet and environmental developments...

• UPS Flight Forward and Wingcopter to develop versatile new drone fleet
• Reynolds Logistics help Gasrec future-proof its fuel delivery
• Aramex launches door-to-door multi-modal shipment visibility solution
• Bringg enables businesses to immediately launch and scale delivery services

Personnel and  HR developments...

• XPO adjusts employee benefits programme in the US
• J.B. Hunt provides bonuses in appreciation of COVID-19 response efforts
• Abbey Logistics to reward and financially protect frontline workers amid COVID-19
• Crane Worldwide targets Middle East expansion
• Royal Mail appoints COO of UK operations
• CEO resigns at Waberer’s
• Dachser set for new CEO

The Logistics Bulletin has provided global supply chain professionals with the latest insight, news and analysis for 17 years. To receive this highly valued service direct to your in-box, register here. Press releases and articles for inclusion can be sent by email to logisticsbulletin@analytiqa.com