1. Maersk considers acquiring DB Schenker

On March 15th, it was reported by Danish business media Børsen that Maersk is accelerating preparations for the acquisition of DB Schenker, following the withdrawals of Kuehne+Nagel and DHL from the acquisition process.

Mr. Søren Skou, CEO of Maersk, expressed interest in acquiring the German logistics company DB Schenker for the first time during the fourth-quarter earnings conference. According to reports, Maersk has recently hired several consultants to assist in evaluating the potential acquisition of DB Schenker, mentioning the approach used by French competitor CMA CGM Group when acquiring Ceva Logistics in 2019.

According to statements from DNB Markets, a Norwegian investment bank, about 20 companies are interested in acquiring DB Schenker. The first phase of the sale process, the "pre-qualification stage," is expected to conclude soon, reducing the list to five potential buyers.

Source: Borsen

2. SF Express launches "Scheduled Delivery" Fulfillment Service in Singapore

On March 15th, SF Express introduced the "Scheduled Delivery" fulfillment service for the first time in Singapore to meet the increasing demand for precise services from Singaporean consumers. This service, applied for the first time to the launch of a new high-end 3C electronic brand, ensures accurate delivery of goods within specified time ranges as requested by customers.

Source: SF Express Group

3. E-commerce parcels to account for one-third of global air cargo volume

On March 15th, at the World Cargo Symposium (WCS) hosted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), delegates were informed that parcels generated by e-commerce could stabilize at one-third of the total air cargo volume.

Ludwig Hausmann, Senior Partner at McKinsey, stated that the proportion of e-commerce air cargo had increased by 10% over five years and is expected to continue growing. At the "Air Cargo Market Dynamics 2024 and E-commerce Opportunities" conference, Hausmann projected that the share of cross-border e-commerce in total air cargo volume would rise from 10% in 2017 to an estimated 20-25% by 2027.

Source: AirCargo News

4. General Administration of Customs: Cross-border e-commerce parcels exceed 7 billion annually

On March 15th, during the third session of the Fourteenth National People's Congress "ministerial passage," Yu Jianhua, Director General of the General Administration of Customs, addressed media questions regarding trends in foreign trade development and the establishment of intelligent customs, specifically mentioning the development of cross-border e-commerce and logistics.

Yu Jianhua highlighted the significant trend of international trade becoming increasingly characterized by smaller orders, with over 7 billion cross-border e-commerce and postal parcels processed annually. Postal express delivery services are accelerating the construction of international postal express delivery centers, overseas ground networks, and overseas warehouses. Currently, the industry has established 312 overseas distribution centers with a total area of 1.6 million square meters and over 300 overseas warehouses covering a total area of over 3.95 million square meters.

Source: Shanghai Cross-border E-commerce Industry Association

5. Cainiao speeds up cross-border express delivery in 25 countries

On March 15th, Cainiao announced a significant acceleration in cross-border express delivery to 25 countries worldwide. Particularly, the launch of new consolidated shipping services for the Middle East allows local consumers to receive cross-border parcels within 7-13 days. Additionally, DDP (Delivery Duty Paid) logistics services continue to be introduced, with upcoming launches in countries such as South Korea, Mexico, and Colombia.

Source: Cainiao

6. Alibaba plans to invest $1.1 billion in South Korea

On March 15th, according to a business plan submitted by Alibaba to the South Korean government, the company plans to establish a comprehensive logistics center in South Korea this year, covering an area of 180,000 square meters. Alibaba will establish a procurement center to promote high-quality Korean products and open global sales channels in June.

Alibaba also plans to sell Korean products through its various e-commerce platforms, including AliExpress, Lazada in Southeast Asia, and Miravia in Spain. Over the next three years, Alibaba aims to support 50,000 South Korean small and medium-sized enterprises in exporting overseas.

Source: Alibaba

7. Shipping giant ZIM reports decline in 2023 performance

On March 15th, Israeli shipping giant ZIM released its financial report for 2023, showing a significant decline compared to the previous year's outstanding performance.

ZIM's total revenue for the full year of 2023 decreased to $5.16 billion, a significant drop from $12.56 billion in 2022. This change was primarily driven by a significant decrease in freight rates, with the average freight rate per TEU dropping to $1203 in 2023, far below $3240 in 2022.

Of particular note, ZIM recorded a $2.5 billion operating loss in 2023, contrasting sharply with the $6.1 billion operating income in 2022.

Source: ZIM

8. Nanjing and Wuxi announce plans to jointly develop comprehensive aviation cargo hub cluster

On March 15th, Nanjing and Wuxi jointly signed the "Strategic Cooperation Agreement for Coordinated Development of International Air Cargo" focusing on cooperation in information sharing, route coordination, customs clearance, warehousing logistics, and enterprise cooperation. The agreement aims to optimize international route layout, arrange flight schedules reasonably, improve route transportation efficiency, promote mutual benefit and win-win cooperation among aviation cargo-related enterprises, jointly promote the construction of provincial main base airlines, "group" to create a comprehensive aviation cargo hub cluster, and jointly build a stable, safe, and efficient supply chain network system.

Source: The Paper

9. South Korean government announces suspension of HMM sale

On March 15th, the South Korean government suspended the sale of HMM. Kang Do-hyung, Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, stated, "The South Korean government does not intend to sell HMM's shares again in the near future. HMM is funded by the state, so I can only say that we are developing plans to ensure its healthy operation. Our primary task before reconsidering the sale will be to stabilize HMM's operation."

Source: Yihangyun

10. Jinan Airport completes first domestic-to-international airside direct transfer cargo transportation service

On March 15th, after non-customs-supervised cargo transported by air from Guangzhou and Shenzhen arrived at Jinan Airport, with strong support from airport customs and other joint inspection units, Jinan Airport, in close cooperation with Shandong Airlines and related logistics enterprises, completed the direct transfer of cargo to the customs-supervised outbound warehouse via the apron on the following day at 4:30 AM. After sorting, weighing, and re-billing, the cargo was swiftly transferred to flight SC8001 bound for Incheon, South Korea, on the same day, marking the official opening of Jinan Airport's "airside direct transfer" service.

Source: Civil Aviation Network of China

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