CARGOCONNECT-MAY23 - Flipbook - Page 41
how the manufacturing capacity develops, particularly across
the consumer goods and high-tech sectors.
According to Kwong, “The e-commerce supply chains are only
as robust, transparent and efficient as their weakest, slowest link,
so we need the industry as a whole to pursue the digital agenda if
we are to fully exploit this sector’s potential. We all need to review
the resources and facilities we make available for e-commerce,
too. The implied additional urgency that comes with e-commerce
– particularly where the consignee is the end consumer – means
that we cannot always process e-commerce traffic through the
same channels as “normal” air cargo.
Some of the e-fulfilment processes also
require additional facilities and capabilities.
That’s why Hactl’s value-added logistics
subsidiary, Hacis, has opened a dedicated
e-commerce fulfilment facility in 2021,
and has recently installed temperaturecontrolled storage and work spaces, for
e-commerce perishables fulfilment.”
In the US, for instance, the manufacturing PMI improved four-tenths, to 47.3
in February, with 50 being the threshold
for growth. Inflation has fallen year over
year from a peak of 9.1 per cent in June
to 6 per cent in February. The producer
price index is at its lowest point since
March 2021. The consumer spending
has remained quite resilient despite the pocketbook pressures.
Many Americans will have more disposable income thanks to the
8.7 per cent cost-of-living increase this year for social security.
Many logistics providers are anticipating a second-half
bounce in international orders and shipping activity as retailers
finish clearing out bloated inventories and begin ordering the
new goods again.
But, airfreight may not benefit much from any extra trade
because of the improved ocean freight reliability and much lower
rates — decreasing nearly 90 per cent in a matter of months — make
the air transport mode less attractive.
THE CARGO CAPACITY,
MEASURED BY AVAILABLE CARGO
TONNE-KILOMETRES (ACTKS) –
INCREASED 3.9 PER CENT YOY IN
JANUARY 2023, THUS REFLECTING
THE STRONG RECOVERY OF
BELLY CARGO CAPACITY IN THE
PASSENGER AIRLINE MARKETS.
THE CARGO LOAD FACTORS
STOOD AT 44.8 PER CENT.
INDIA’S BUDGET 2023:
A WELCOME CONTINUITY
The Indian government, which had greenlit the National Logistics Policy (NLP)
last year, has followed up on its vision
envisaged in the policy, through a spate
of announcements in this year’s Union
Budget, that allows enough room for
investments to trickle in and allow for
scaling up of infrastructure needed to
support the logistics, supply chain, and
the transportation ecosystem of India.
The logistics and supply chain industry
in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of
10.5 per cent from 2020 to 2025. In line
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