I N D U S T R Y N E W S
Calcutta Freight Brokers Association (CFBA) holds 73rd AGM Urges to integrate each other rather competing
Jul 24The 73rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Calcutta Freight Brokers Association (CFBA) was held last week in Kolkata which was well attended by liners, freight forwarders, Customs, Port officials apart from the members of the association.
The highlight of the AGM was the attendance of Mr. Okinobu Hatsugai, MD, NYK Line India Ltd and the Managing Committee Members of the Bombay Overseas Freight Brokers Association (BOFBA) which include Mr. Ramesh Jaisinh, Mr. Gurudutta Deosthalee, Mr. Kamlesh Gandhi, Mr. Nitin Kayani, expressing strong relationship between both the associations.
Welcoming the guests and the members of the association, Mr. V. K. Chhajer, Chairman, CFBA, in his keynote address emphasized on proper intergr-ation and Co-ordination among various service provider to cater quality, faster and competitive service to the trade. With the exports expected to touch $ 500 bln from existing $ 246 bln by 2014, shipping sector has to play a very important role as 90 pc of India's overseas trade is carried by seaborne vessels. He noted that freight rates were lower 30 to 40 pc than last year - Despite higher bunker costs (up 40 pc) and projected growth rate of 5 to 8 pc annually on Asia-Europe trade lane from 2011 to 2015 - because of deployment of around 18000 TEUs vessels by top global liners to achieve economies of scale, creating over capacity.
The change in global scenario has thrown great opportunity to them as US and Europe markets were still under depression, Mr. Chhajer added. He said that with the asian countries were in centre of focus of today's global trade and East coast ports' close proximity has provided an edge over western Indian ports. Mr. Chhajer also urged other logistic players to be complimentary to each other rather than competing for the benefit of the Indian shipping industry which continue to prosper on the back of robust India's economic growth.
At last while concluding, he urged the government to accord top priority to completion of various infrastructure projects as the trade was expecting 20 pc of container trade growth for the next 5 years which would also provide great opportunity to Indian feeder operators and shipping community Mr. Bharat Jain, Vice Chairman CFBA, proposed the vote of thanks.
Maritime India -Kolkata
India bags 10th rank in services export worldwide
Jul 24India achieved 10th rank in export of services worldwide, while emerged as the 20th biggest merchandise exporter in 2010, according to a latest WTO report. In 2009, the country stood at the 12th and 22nd position globally
in services and goods exports, respectively.
In value terms last year, India exported services and merchandise worth $110 billion and $216 billion respectively, the 'World Trade Report 2011' said.
India's goods exports went up by 31 percent in 2010, helping the country to expand its market share to 1.4 percent from 1.2 percent in 2009.
According to industry experts, increasing demand for Indian goods in new markets like Latin America and Africa are helping in boosting the country's exports.
This (improvement in India's ranking) is because our exports are doing reasonably well in new markets like Latin America, Middle East and other Asian markets. We are focusing on these markets, Crisil Principal Economist D K Joshi said.
FIEO said that the diversification of India's exports basket are also helping in increasing the shipments.
Slowly, India's rank is going to increase..., FIEO President Ramu Deora said.
Engineering and petroleum exports contribute about 40 percent in the total exports. Earlier, there contribution was low, Deora said.
New Delhi's services exports share in the world exports increased to 3 percent in 2010 from 2.6 percent in 2009.
Further the report said, globally China ranked first in terms of merchandise exports followed by the US and Germany. In services export, the US is on the top slot followed by Germany and UK.
Maritime India - New Delhi
APM Terminals (GTI) lends helping hand to JNP to facilitate smooth box movement
Jul 24Vessels calling APM Terminals Mumbai (GTI) is having a smooth sail as the terminal has made adjustments to support the trade and neighbouring JNP terminal during
This exceptionally busy season.
The terminal has handled 32 ad hoc vessel calls so far in 2011. From time to time, the terminal has come forward to accommodate additional vessels in response to the situations arising due to various reasons. This additional volume will shift back to the neighbouring facilities immediately after the cranes are operational at the JN Port. The terminal's clients have the option of keeping gates open for two vessels to facilitate smooth container movement at all times. With the completion of crane installation and vessels keeping to their schedules, APM Terminals expects JNP to return to normalcy and optimal functioning very soon.
Maritime India -Mumbai
JNPT capacity constraints A blessing in disguise for Mundra, Pipavav ports
Jul 24The signing of the concession agreement for the JNPT's fourth terminal is likely to take place within a month or two with the Adani Group having withdrawn recently the petition challenging the denial of security clearance for the terminal, according to sources. The price bids for the terminal have been opened, the sources point out. It might be noted that the award of the contracts for the construction of the new terminal as well as capacity expansion of an existing berth of the port have been delayed due to court cases which are believed to have reached the final stage for settlement. The 4.8 million-TEU capacity fourth terminal is to be implemented in two phases -2.4 million-TEU capacity in each phase.
In the first phase, targeted to be completed in three years, a 1,000-metre berth is to be constructed in addition to undertaking land reclamation, dredging and rail and road connectivity and installation of handling gantries and other equipment, all at an estimated cost of around Rs 3,800 crore.
The second phase, estimated to cost Rs 2,800 crore, is supposed to be completed within eight years from the signing of the concession agreement. Meanwhile, the capacity constraint at the JNPT port has helped other west coast ports, particularly Mundra and Pipavav in Gujarat, to flourish.
According to an analysis, container throughput at Mundra and Pipavav ports grew 24 pc and 38 pc CAGR respectively between 2007-11 against 11 pc CAGR in all west coast ports taken together during the same period. Since the new capacity creation at the JNPT will take at least another three years or so, the Gujarat ports could hope to have a continued growth for the next few years, it is observed.
Maritime India - Kolkata
'Border Haats' to herald new chapter of co-operation in India-Bangladesh trade
Jul 24The Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Anand Sharma, said that an estimated $20 million worth trade will take place annually between India and Bangladesh through the 'Border Haats'. Mr Sharma and his Bangladesh counterpart Mr Muhammad Faruk Khan jointly inaugurated a Border Haat at Kalaichar, West Garo Hill District in Meghalaya on Saturday, an official statement said. "The opening of Border Haats would herald a new chapter of cooperation in India-Bangladesh trade," Mr Sharma said.
The commodities traded will include vegetables, food items, fruits, spices, bamboo, bamboo grass, broom stick, local cottage industry items, small agriculture household implements, garments, melamine products, processed food and fruit juice. Initially, the Border Haats as pilot projects, will be opened at Baliamari (Kurigram District, Bangladesh)-Kalaichar (West Garo Hills, Meg-halaya, India) and at Lauwa-ghar (Dalora) (Sunamganj District, Bang-ladesh)-Balat (East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India). In addition to the Border Haats, both sides are working on several projects to improve trade infrastructure and connectivity.
The Border Management Department of Ministry of Home Affairs in India is developing seven Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) on India -Bangladesh Border viz; Petrapole, Agartala, Dawki, Hili, Chandrabangha, Sutarkhandi and Kawarp-uchiah. Further, India is also developing infrastructure at 8 Land Custom Stations along the Indo-Bangladesh border at a cost of Rs 108.19 crore.
The LCSs are Borosora, Dalu, Ghasupara, Mahadipur, Hilli, Phullbari, Srimantpur and Gojadanga. The total projected cost of all the ICPs and Land Custom Stations being developed is $125 million.
Maritime India - New Delhi
Textile bodies welcome VAT relief on cotton fabrics
Jul 24Textile industry associations heave a sigh of relief over the State Govt's move on removing the 5 per cent VAT on cotton fabrics and related products. Thanking the Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa, for considering the association's representation favourably, the Southern India Mills Association Chairman, Mr J. Thulasidharan, said the decision to remove VAT on cotton fabrics is in the right direction. This would benefit the powerloom sector in and around Avanashi and knitted garment sector in Tirupur, made-up sector in Karur and Madurai. The textile industry is in a reviving mood and this move would regain its competitiveness once the Centre announces a bail out package and restores export benefits.
Maritime India - Coimbatore
'Captive port policy' to jeopardise private port operators: IPPTA
Jul 24Private port operators fear that the Government's proposed 'captive port policy' could render their terminals unviable in the long-run. Under the draft policy announced last month, major port users (port-based industries) will be allowed to set up their own dedicated berths at major ports on a nomination basis. According to the Indian Private Port and Terminals Association (IPPTA), the captive berth allotted to a single user will jeopardize the nearby private terminals set up on BOT basis.
The proposed policy is almost tantamount to a change in the law. BOT operators bid for port projects on the basis of certain existing parameters and conditions according to the agreements, whereas, under the captive policy, select parties may get favoured treatment. Therefore, the association has appealed that captive berths should not be allowed anywhere near a private terminal. The association pointed out that the definition of port-based industry should be given in a non-ambiguous manner. The policy should take into account factors like proximity, minimum cargo volumes, lack of alternate port facility etc.
Private terminal operators also fear that the parties who get the "captive" ports may not have the necessary know how to operate them. Therefore, they may subcontract it to third parties and earn royalty or revenue share, thus misusing the policy.
It is also pointed out that under the captive policy, royalty is only on wharfage and handling charges whereas in case of BOT operators, it is on gross revenue. There is no clarity on how rates will be set for the captive facilities. According to IPPTA, the draft Policy is silent on certain aspects like whether there will separately be any lease rentals charged for the land allocated and whether port itself will obtain environmental clearances, hydrographical surveys, dredging and pilotage. Handling charges are not clearly defined. In the PPP, concession agreements litigations arose due to non clarity of such terms. For example, handling charges may be later on interpreted to include demurrage charges according to the scale of rates, the association pointed out.
Maritime India - Mumbai
Cochin Shipyard unveils 2 OSVs for SCI, Norwegian firm
Jul 24Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) has deployed two new offshore support vessels constructed for Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) and a Norwegian company. BY 80, an anchor handling tug supply vessel, was contracted by SCI and BY 84, a platform supply vessel by Brage Supplier of Norway.
The ships were launched by the CSL Director (Technical), Mr V. Radhakrishnan, in the presence of the CSL, CMD, Commodore K. Subramaniam, and the Director (Finance), Mr Ravikumar Roddam. BY 80, to be named SCI Urja, is the last in a series of four 120-tonne Bollard pull anchor handling tug supply vessels (AHTS), being built for SCI.
The vessel is of AH03 design, designed by STX Europe, and is classified under the Rules and Regulations of the American Bureau of Shipping as 'Dual Class' with the Indian Register of Shipping.
Upon delivery, the vessel will fly the Indian flag and will be registered at Mumbai. BY 84 is the last of a series of four platform supply vessels of type PSV 09 CD, designed by STX Europe, being built for Brage Supplier, Norway. The vessel is a modern large diesel electric PSV designed to cater to needs of the offshore oil and gas industry. A statement issued by the company said that the yard presently has 34 ships on order.
Maritime India - Kochi
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