In this issue we look at the Group’s new terminal in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, our ports in UK, the Port of Felixstowe and Harwich International Port have been included as one of eight new Freeport’s designated by the UK Government, followed by an exciting new 5G project at Felixstowe has also been unveiled.  We shine the spotlight on how HKSPA has built its market leading cold chain service in the fresh produce imports sector into South China and beyond.

We also cover the progress of delivering vaccines worldwide and how the experts sees the global imbalance in containers, which is causing headaches for all players in the industry. We track rail freight between China and Europe which is entering a new era and discover how procurement companies have adapted to major supply chain disruption during the last year.

GMD UPFRONT MESSAGE

Over a year has passed since the pandemic first started making sweeping changes to our way of life and to industry and businesses in general. Without question, COVID-19 has triggered devastating impact to people and economies worldwide. It will likely take years for a full recovery.

HUTCHISON PORTS AND JCPDI SIGN AGREEMENT TO DEVELOP MULTI-PURPOSE PORT IN SAUDI ARABIA

A ground-breaking new agreement has been signed between Hutchison Ports and The Royal Commission in Jubail and Yanbu on 15 February, represented by the Jubail and Yanbu Industrial Services Company in Saudi Arabia, to develop terminals for general cargo, dry bulk and containers as part of a broader logistics development plan by the Jazan City for Primary and Downstream Industries (JCPDI).

PORT OF FELIXSTOWE AND HARWICH INTERNATIONAL GRANTED FREEPORT STATUS

On 3 March 2021, Rishi Sunak, the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, granted Freeport status to Freeport East which is centred upon Hutchison Ports’ Port of Felixstowe and Harwich International Port as one of eight new Freeports during his budget speech in the House of Commons.

HKSPA CHILLED SOLUTIONS TO WORLD’S LARGEST FRUIT MARKET

Growing demand for temperature-controlled goods continues to drive global expansion in the cold chain and despite the challenges for shipping last year, forecasts for the reefer sector are very positive.

DELIVERING THE VACCINE

Behind the scenes of an expectant world, an army of logistics professionals are working around the clock to deliver the COVID-19 vaccines to the many affected countries.

CHINA-EUROPE RAIL FREIGHT COMES OF AGE

The phenomenal rise in rail freight between China and Europe has provided shippers with an alternative to air freight and ocean. For many shippers, the attraction of direct rail services between inland cities has proved popular.

BOX DROUGHT IMPACT ON GLOBAL OCEAN TRANSPORT

Container is the main element to marine global trade which allow goods to be shipped from one side of the world to another. Lately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic a shortage of containers has become a global issue.

TECHNOLOGY AND EMPATHY POWERS PROCUREMENT IN 2021

As the world of procurement adapts to the new normal of fractured supply chains, there has been a movement that engenders greater understanding of suppliers and their issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.