Dear Readers,
It is Week 40, Thursday and PCW is here with yet another issue of our renowned online newsletter.
In this edition, we will bring you the editor’s comments on the past two weeks and (hopefully even more important for all our readers) give you input and valuable interviews from people in the shipping and logistics industry worldwide.
Shipping and logistics IS a lifestyle and is one of the best businesses to be in. I should know as this year marks the 44th year I have been around it!
This past week saw me attending the FIATA World Congress in Panama City, Panama. I like Panama. It is a kind of a giant gateway, notably due to one very important factor: the canal of the same name as the country. What a marvel to behold! To visit and to sit at the Pacific side in Panama City in the morning, watching the northbound convoy starting, and then in the afternoon, observing the southbound convoy with ships of all kinds and sizes passing you so closely by. Just loved the place!
The Panama convention centre is just a 5 minute walk from the fairway leading to the shipping lane of the Panama Canal.
Here is a selection of photos from a very well-organised FIATA World Congress which had some 800 attendees from all over the world.
Here is a collection of a variety of ships passing the Panama Canal on the Pacific side during my 4-day stay.
I also tried flying with COPA Airlines—a first for me. COPA is a Panamanian headquartered airline with links all over Latin America and the Caribbean. So many islands that I would like to visit when looking at the departure screens in the airport. Flying as usual in Y class (‘coach’ as they call it in the Americas) was ok. Since I had a window seat, I managed to see a bit on the rather long 6hr 20 minute flight from Santiago to Panama.
Maps really can fool you with regards to actual distance. I still recall my old colleagues from Penta Shipping in 1992 when I moved to Beijing. They asked me to go to Guangzhou the next day to sort out some problems. I had to remind the inward-looking Danes in the head office in Copenhagen about the distances in China. It helped when I asked them to fly to Casablanca, Morocco to do something for me 😀.
Panama is also famous for banking and attractive taxes. Thus, many companies have got their LATAM headquarters in the country.
Speaking of banks, the situation now for many of us “normal people”is that even the smallest of transactions must be explained and back up proof must be provided. Banks (what I call ‘state sanctioned robbery’ from time to time) have a monopoly on wisdom, and customer service is a thing of the past. They seldom pass on any reduction in national interest rates to their customers, and when they do, it takes them a long time. In a country like Sweden, for example, there is hardly any competition. Strange isn’t it that if you bring in 50 or 100 million there is never a problem, but if you remit EUR 5,000 you better have your documentation and explanations in order.
Money laundering is not a common problem. It is the minority in a world of transactions, and treating “normal customers” with disdain and with reference to anti-money laundering is not the solution.
In Colon, I saw the free trade zone. With all the plastic there, it really looked like little Dongguan, Guangdong, China as also LATAM is overwhelmed with the influx of cheap Chinese knock offs, plastic products and lots of copies of others’ products. But that is the name of the game. If we are not efficient, then we will be succumbing to Asian-made products, and our lofty goals about sustainability will go nowhere. I alluded last week to the competitiveness report of the EU — a several hundred pages report from Mario Draghi — which, whilst no doubt correct and in depth scary reading for our leaders, can be summed up in one picture… which I received from a friend of mine (see below).
I am now resting up in Santiago, Chile before my next trip to Houston. I depart for there on October 12 and return October 18. Then, I am off to Europe on October 28. Please note that Project Cargo Weekly & CLC Projects Network & Cross Ocean Network will be present at Antwerp XL at booth H100 on 8-10 October.
It seems that a strike is coming for the USEC and Gulf Ports. This will no doubt be another bonanza for shipowners, but c’est la vie. Adding to that the war in Ukraine, the Red Sea crisis, and other things, it should bode well for their bottom line also this year.
In my home country Denmark, and the city of AARHUS where I started my career in 1980, there seems to be a battle between the M class vessels of Maersk (Monopoly Maersk one such vessel 😀) and MSC. Given that the former believe they have the right to endlessly keep a monopoly on running the container terminal and now with their former brothers in the 2M alliance which soon is being disbanded, MSC intends to start running their terminal operation, too. PCW is of the opinion that any monopoly is bad for business. We have seen this in other ports in Africa and LATAM where some major players use port operations to yield even political influence. Monopoly, greed, and exorbitant prices after being the only player in town is truly not good for anyone, least of all the final consumer.
In this week’s edition of Project Cargo Weekly, we’ve got:
1. Moveco / KTC a logistics and inland transport provider located in Central America, most interesting. They even handle business on some of the Caribbean Islands, shipping in the trucks & cranes. Do watch the interview.
2. Unicore Logistics, Vientiane, Laos — not every day do we have an interview with anyone from this landlocked country which is pretty much under Chinese influence, also from a logistics point of view.
3. Drewry is a UK-based company specialising in forecasting in shipping and logistics. With competent people at the helm, it may be well worth your while to read this interview.
4. XLProjects (XLP) is a network headquartered in Thailand, and it is run by a specialist, Gary Dale, who I know for many years. He has done well and was one of the pioneers in the “networking field” and now runs several.
We, of course, provide you with shipping news, trade intel, and featured photo and video of the week which, to a great extent focuses on my recent wonderful trip to the Panama Canal that my father passed through in 1957 and me for the first time in 1968 – as they say, many many kilos ago.
Wise words are provided, and we remind you as always to download our APP – here is the link –.
We remain,
Until 17th of October which will focus on Breakbulk Americas,
Yours sincerely,
With best regards,
Bo H. Drewsen
bo.drewsen@projectcargo-weekly.com
Video Interview
Moveco GT
Leonel Segura Ruiz, Principal Chief Executive Officer at Moveco GT was interviewed by Bo H. Drewsen, Editor in Chief at Project Cargo Weekly
Unicore Logistics Sole Co Ltd – Vientiane, Laos
Interview with
Mr. Zhongqing Chen
General Manager
First of all Chen, when did you establish your company? Can you tell our readers about the history and also tell us about when you arrived in Laos?
Hi Bo, thanks for giving us the chance to be interviewed by PCW. First of all, we established our company in March 2020. I arrived in Laos in June 2015. At the time, I was employed by the EU Trading company, and I was sent to Laos to supervise a copper smelting project in Laos. In 2020, I established UNICORE LOGISTICS SOLE CO., LTD. We have been developing the business since. In 2023, we signed the sub-agent agreement with CMA CGM (Thailand) CO., LTD, and we are the first carrier sub-agent in Laos. Then, in July 2024, we opened our branch office in Thailand, UNICORE LOGISTICS(THAILAND) CO., LTD.
Drewry – London, UK
Interview with
Mr. James Harley
Director & Head of Marketing
When was Drewry originally established? Who “owns” Drewry?
The Drewry name can be traced back to the early 1970s, when the business began providing research services primarily to the bulk shipping sectors. While the broad range of maritime research and consulting services offered by the company today are very different to then, the business has always taken great care to preserve its core values of independence and objectivity, with no asset ‘bias’ or direct involvement in broking. Drewry has always been privately owned. The current principal shareholder and Executive Chairman of Drewry Group is Arjun Batra, who has been instrumental in the growth of the company, including setting-up offices in India, Shanghai and Singapore.
XLProjects (XLP) – Bangkok, Thailand
Interview with
Mr. Gary Dale Cearley
Executive Director
First of all, can you elaborate a bit on your background getting into logistics originally — when, who, and why?
I’ve been deeply involved in logistics for over 35 years, and it all started back after I joined the U.S. Navy at 18. Growing up in Prescott, Arkansas, I was always curious about the world, but it wasn’t until my time in the Navy that my interest in international business and travel really took off. Freight forwarding became the perfect path for me to explore that passion, allowing me to work globally and build connections across different cultures.
Breakbulk Americas to Offer First AI Workshop
Editor’s Note:
Breakbulk Americas is around the corner do take special note of this workshop taking place during the expo…
As artificial intelligence reshapes industries worldwide, the maritime and logistics sectors are navigating uncharted waters in adopting this technology. “AI has become a buzzword that’s often overused and misunderstood, especially in the maritime and logistics sectors,” says Marco Poisler, COO of Global Energy & Capital Projects at UTC Overseas. “This workshop is crucial because it cuts through the hype, offering a balanced, critical perspective on AI adoption.”
In an industry first, the 2024 Breakbulk Americas exhibition and conference will host an AI-focused workshop, Navigating the AI Wave in Supply Chain, Logistics & the Maritime Industry: A Cautionary Exploration. The session, held in partnership with the University of Houston’s C.T. Bauer College of Business, will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 15, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.
Nuclear power on the agenda for maritime with Mikal Boe CEO of Core Power
Editor’s Note:
We were told for years about dangers of nuclear power. Sweden for example abolished its nuclear power plants only now to get them re-instated at huge costs as usual to the taxpayer. Has anyone questions the green lobby about the cost of their lofty ideals? Below could be an interesting podcast for you.
Nuclear power as an alternative fuel for maritime is gaining serious momentum as a pathway to zero emissions for the industry.
In this episode of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast, Marcus Hand, Editor of Seatrade Maritime News, sits down with Mikal Boe, CEO of Core Power, to discuss the advancements and future of nuclear power in the maritime industry.
Container xChange Customer Advisory – U.S. East Coast Strikes
Editor’s Note:
Input here from Container xChange on USEC situation. Container XChange generally has very informative newsletters.
The advisory outlines the ripple effects this strike could have on the U.S. economy, particularly in sectors such as retail, automotive, and manufacturing. It provides key insights and strategic recommendations for businesses to mitigate the risks associated with stranded cargo, rerouting challenges, and escalating shipping costs.
Join Us at Breakbulk Americas
Editor’s Note:
Project Cargo Weekly will be present at below expo in Houston. You can find me at booth N41 (Atlas Heavy) so welcome over for a solid shipping talk.
The countdown is on! With less than two weeks until Breakbulk Americas opens its doors. Don’t miss out on three days packed with invaluable networking, exclusive content, and unlimited opportunities to grow your business.
WEG will invest in vertical integration processes
Brazil, Jaraguá do Sul: WEG plans to invest approximately R$670 million ($122.7 million) over the next five years. These investments will be focused on the expansion and vertical integration of its transformer and electric motor businesses in Mexico and Brazil.
MPHC, QIMC, Turkiye’s Atlas establish a joint venture to build a new salt production facility
QatarEnergy has witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish Qatar Salt Products Company (QSalt). This strategic partnership, an initiative by QatarEnergy’s TAWTEEN localization program, brought together Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Company “MPHC” (40% share), Qatar Industrial Manufacturing Co. “QIMC” (30% share), and the Turkiye’s Atlas Yatirim Planlama (30% share). The new joint venture will build a salt production plant in the Um Al Houl area in Qatar, to be operated by Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO) and Qatar Vinyl Company (QVC).
Co Tyrone manufacturer Kiverco lands multimillion-pound contracts in Saudi Arabia
Kiverco, specialists in modular, portable, and static waste-recycling equipment, have picked up multi-million-pound contracts to export their recycling machinery to Saudi Arabia with the support of UK government department UK Export Finance (UKEF).
NEXTCHEM (MAIRE) awarded licensing and process design package based on its Ultra-Low Energy proprietary technology for El Delta urea plant expansion in Egypt
Maire S.p.A. (Milan) announced that Nextchem (Sustainable Technology Solutions), through its subsidiary CONSER, its technology licensor for high-value chemical derivatives and biodegradable plastics, has been awarded by Al Baleed Petrochemical Company (ABP) the technology licensing, the process design package and catalyst supply for a Maleic Anhydride plant to be located in the Salalah Free Zone, in Oman.
Panama Canal Visit
Editor’s Note:
Had a fantastic week in Panama – visited both sides of the Panama Canal which I personally sailed through on 3 occasions in life 1968, 2010 and 2012. Besides that Panama is a great place to be a bit like Singapore a hub etc but much less boring…🙂
Editor’s Note:
A great shot here up close of CMA CGM Carl Antonine as she is about to enter the Panama Canal going towards the Caribbean/Atlantic side.
