Global Logistics

That is not a secret, not when ostensibly everywhere you look there are signs of supply chain disruption just about anywhere. “Anywhere” can be loosely defined along the lines of things like port congestion, truck driver availability, equipment-related challenges (think containers and chassis), among a whole host of others, to be sure.

Global logistics services provider Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL) said this week it has inked an agreement to acquire Mainz, Germany-based global ocean freight forwarding services provider J.F. Hillebrand Group and its related subsidiaries for roughly $1.5 billion (EUR).

As expected, the long-awaited spin-off of GXO Logistics from Greenwich, Conn.-based freight transportation services provider XPO Logistics was made official today. This move was originally announced by XPO in December 2020, when XPO introduced its plan to seek a spin-off of its logistics group as a standalone publicly traded company split it into two separate publicly-traded companies on the New York Stock Exchange—with one focused on global contract logistics [GXO Logistics] and the other focused on less-than-truckload (LTL) and...

The company said that this Form 10 was filed in connection with the XPO’s planned spin-off of its logistics unit into a separate publicly traded company, which was initially announced in December, 2020. And it noted that the spin-off is expected to be completed in the third quarter, adding that GXO will be traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

The company said that the expansion is comprised of an additional 5,000 square-feet (SF) of cold room and 50,000 (SF) of controlled room temperature space. And it added that this facility, which the company opened in 2006, also incorporates 9,000 SF of +2C to +8C space, 100,000 SF of +15C to +25C space, and dedicated capacity on its own-controlled flights to and from Luxembourg, which, along with Luxembourg serve as major centers of vaccine/pharmaceutical activity.

DSV officials said that this acquisition is expected to establish a top three global freight forwarder, for revenue, and will be an all-share transaction expected to close in the third quarter. And it also noted that Agility will become DSV’s second largest shareholder, with an 8% ownership stake in the company.

Bremen, Germany-based global third-party logistics (3PL) services provider Kuehne+Nagel (K+N) said this week it has entered into a binding agreement to acquire Shanghai, China-based freight forwarder Apex International Corporation, in what it said is the biggest acquisition in the company’s history.

The dashboard provides shippers with a one-stop shop, of sorts, in the form of market trends, capacity, and pricing across all regions and modes.

Following an early October Bloomberg report, which indicated Greenwich, Conn.-based global freight transportation and logistics services provider XPO Logistics was vetting the possibility of selling its European supply chain business, a Bloomberg report published this week stated that is no longer the case.

A new Mercator study notes that U.S. West Coast ports have been experiencing a loss of market share of discretionary cargo to Vancouver and Prince Rupert for well over a decade.

The Port of Los Angeles will begin distributing and publishing key dashboard data from Wabtec’s Port Optimizer™so that all supply chain stakeholders have easy access and can use the forward-looking information to better plan and prepare for inbound cargo.

Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles observes that reaching out and assisting the United Farm Workers is directly aligned with his mission to help keep workers stay safe and assist in the re-emergence of our state and nation’s economy.

Maritime industry analysts for the London-based Transport Intelligence (Ti) note that ocean cargo carriers may finally be seeing some brighter days ahead.

When longtime shipping industry executive Bryan Brandes was named Maritime Director at the Port of Oakland last June, he quickly took the helm by leading a staff of 20 responsible for one of the nation’s 10 largest container gateways.

If there’s one lesson to learn, it’s that supply chains must now become more resilient. And as more companies consider reshoring to the United States, there are many things to consider beyond just making the economics work.