PortCalls
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::Industry News::

Archives | 2005 Q2 : April | May | June

May 2 | May 9 | May 11 | May 16 | May 18 |

May 23 | May 25 | May 30


*RP air shipments soar 31%

*First-quarter imports down 4%

*Lorenzo Shipping net income up 9.9%

*Cold chain loans hit P934.3M as of March

*New NYK vessel deployed to the MICT

*Jan-April passenger traffic up 8.7%, cargo 4.7%: IATA


RP air shipments soar 31%

ABX Pan Globe Logistics leads list
THE Philippine airfreight industry has finally turned a corner after experiencing a slowdown in the last couple of years. Last year, the industry posted a 31.14% growth, handling a total of 242.08 million kilograms (kg) from 184.59 million kg in the previous year. Preliminary data obtained by <i>PortCalls</i> from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) showed direct shipments increasing 47.26% to 36.67 million kg from 24.90 million kg, while consolidation was up 49% to 140.35 million kg from 94.20 million kg in 2003.

Breakbulk ship-ments, on the other hand, dipped 0.66% to 65.06 million kg from 65.49 million kg in the previous year. ABX Pan Globe Logistics landed the top spot handling 16.46 million kg, accounting for 7.14% of the total market (see table). The forwarding firm moved 3.08 million kg in consolidated shipments, representing 2.19% of the total market. Breakbulk shipments reached 3.10 million kg or 5.78% of the volume.

Airlift Asia, Inc. ranked second with 12.37 million kg, down 35.54% from the previous year's 19.19 million kg. The company registered direct shipments of 725,124 kg, and consolidated shipments, 4.88 million kg. Danzas AEI, Inc. came in third with total shipments rising 3.67% to 11.59 million kg from 11.18 million kg. In 2004, it handled 4.41 million kg in consolidated shipments, 6.74 million kg breakbulk, and 444,692 kg direct.

Exel Phils., Inc. is in fourth place - the same ranking in 2003 - transporting 11.37 million kg, up 0.44% from 11.18 million kg in 2003. Direct shipments reached 433,095 kg; consolidated, 8.40 million kg; and breakbulk, 2.84 million kg. ATE Freight Phils., Inc. was in fifth place with a total of 10.91 million kg, accounting for 4.73% of the total market. The company transported the highest number of consolidated shipments for the year -10.90 million kg.

In sixth place was Asia Pacific Express Corp, which moved 9.78 million kg. The company delivered 9.72 million kg in consolidated cargoes.

Expeditors Philippines, Inc., climbed a notch to seventh place from its 2003 ranking with 8.22 million kg. It transported 6.72 million kg in consolidated shipments and 1.39 million kg breakbulk. It held the number one spot in 2001 when its shipments reached 62.24 million kg.
Completing last year's list of top ten airfreight forwarding companies were: Yusen Air & Sea Services Phils., formerly at number three with 7.90 million kg; Bax Global Philippines with 6.14 million kg; and Kintetsu World Express (Phils.), Inc. with 5.64 million kg.

2004 Ranking Of International Airfreight Forwarders

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First-quarter imports down 4%

TOTAL imports for January to March this year dropped 4% to US$3.4 billion from $3.6 billion a year ago.


The National Statistics Office reported that this was due in part to the decline of inward shipments of electronic products by 13.1% from last year's figure of $1.6 billion.


Payments for electronic products account for 41.1% of the Philippines' total aggregate import bill. Importation of industrial machinery and equipment also dropped 13% from last year's $163.8 million.


While some manufacturers continue to decrease production due to declining business prospects, others are increasing production, notably companies engaged in the use of imported mineral fuels, lubricants, and related products. Importation of these products is up by 17.2% due to increased investments in mining and oil exploration projects. Earlier this month, the government reported pledged investments of foreign mining companies worth $1.9 billion and the issuance of about 30 mining permits by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.


Increases in importation for the first quarter were also noted for the following: cereals and cereal preparations, which can be traced to the weak first-quarter production performance of the agricultural sector, at 53.7%; iron and steel at 18.0%; and transport equipment at 0.04%.


Payments for imports from the top ten sources for March amounted to US$2.6 billion, with Japan, the United States, and Taiwan topping the list at 17.3%, 15.0%, and 9.2%, respectively.

Other major sources of imports in March were: Singapore, $251.69 million; People's Republic of China, $222.08 million; Republic of Korea, $188.89 million; Saudi Arabia, $153.38 million; Hong Kong, $143.45 million; Malaysia, $134.15 million; and Thailand, $120.33 million.


Payments for imports from the top ten sources for the month amounted to $2.640 billion or 76.8% of the total.

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Lorenzo Shipping net income up 9.9%

DOMESTIC freight operator Lorenzo Shipping Corporation (LSC) posted a 9.9% increase in net income during the first three months of the year to P18,524,869 from P16,854,362.


In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), the company also reported a 2.63% or P7.456 million growth in net revenue, from P283.5 million to P291.04 million.
The implementation of a 9% and 5.5% general rate increase in October 2004 and January 2005, respectively helped boost revenue.


Operating expenses grew P4.9 million or 1.9% due to fuel price increases and higher cost of repairs and maintenance. Interest and finance charges decreased P2.9 million or 15.36% as a result of repayment of loans while miscellaneous income also registered a P4.6 million or 24.06% reduction due to fewer door-to-door shipments.


LSC transported 1.3% more containerized cargoes during the first quarter of the year totaling 25,008 TEU compared with 24,682 TEUs in 2004.


Increased liftings were attributed to greater foreign box shipments, whose volume for the first quarter doubled compared to the same period last year. However, domestic cargoes were lower for both southbound and northbound shipments, the company said.


Vessel trips for the quarter were eight short vis a vis the same period last year because of drydocking of two vessels.


Last March, LSC's sale by its parent firm Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) to National Marine Corporation (NMC) was signed. NOL's shareholdings in the company consist of 28.68% of the outstanding common stock and 82.19% of the convertible preferred shares.

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Cold chain loans hit P934.3M as of March

AS of March, loans under the Sustainable Logistics Development Program (SLDP) for the cold chain sector reached a total of P934.3 million covering 26 projects, and for the grains highway component, P861.9 million for 124 projects.


In its latest report, the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) said its cold chain loan program has assisted the private sector with projects involving seafood processing, meat processing, refrigeration, cold storage and packaging. These projects are located in Ilocos, Pangasinan, Metro Manila, Masbate, Iloilo, Bohol, Cebu, Cagayan De Oro, Davao and General Santos.


The grains highway component, on the other hand, has funded grains processing, milling, bulk storage and loading facilities in Ilocos, Isabela, Aurora, Bataan, Tarlac, Bulacan, Batangas, Mindoro, Bohol, Negros, Leyte, Cotabato, Agusan, Bukidnon, Davao, Palawan and Zamboanga.


"We are equally supporting the cold chain and grains highway which are an integral component in the efficient handling and transport of perishables such as grains, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat and poultry products from farm to end-users. The objective is to cut down on spoilage or wastage and the cost of goods through a more efficient and reliable transport system," said DBP assistant vice president Fausto V. Aragones, Jr.


Among the priorities of DBP, the SLDP not only promotes investments in ships and ports but is seen to eventually create more jobs, bring down the prices of food and services, and eventually alleviate poverty particularly in the countryside through the introduction of modern storage handling and transport.
The bank has P17 billion in funds available for logistics project investments, P7.5 billion of which is allotted to the Road Roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) Terminal System (RRTS) and P6.5 billion and P16 billion for the bulk grains highway and cold chain, respectively.


To date, there are 22 connections in the RRTS still open for private sector and local government units investments, Aragones said. These are: Bogo to Placer; Pilar to Aroroy; Maasin to Ubay; Manapla to Ajuy; Masbate to Talisay to Jacinto then to Bulan; Manila to Orion; Ternate to Mariveles; Aroroy to Boca Enga–o; Calatagan to Abra de Ilog; Del Carmen to Caglanao; Lupon to Samal; Magdiwang to Romblon to Carmen then to Pinamalayan; Mambajao to Jagna; Naval to Binalayan to Cataingan then to Calbayog; Pascual to San Narciso then to Pasacao; Pio Duran to Claveria; Roxas City to Balud; Taytay to Coron then to San Jose; Caticlan to Semirara then to Bulalacao; Union to Sta. Fe; and the Northern Triangle connecting Palanan to Maconacon to San Vicente to Basco then to Curimao.

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New NYK vessel deployed to the MICT

Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) recently deployed a new vessel, the 450-TEU MV Shimanami, to the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT). Arriving from Singapore, the vessel offloaded 43 TEUs and loaded 153 TEUs. The vessel was bound for Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Antonio Mozar, International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) Superintendent (2nd from left), awarded a certificate of commemoration to Capt. Gary Superable, Vessel Master (3rd from left). Also present during the maiden call were (L to R) Fidem Sigaya, NYK Terminal Operations Manager, and Marlon Manansala and Nestor Lisondra, ICTSI

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Jan-April passenger traffic up 8.7%, cargo 4.7%: IATA

THE International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently reported an 8.7% growth in passenger traffic but slower cargo growth of 4.7%.
IATA director general and CEO Giovanni Bisignani said the continuing extraordinary price of oil and increasing pressure on yields mean that a speedy transition to a low-cost industry is critical.
IATA said capacity expansion in all regions for the first quarter was below traffic growth, maintaining load factors at 73.6% for the period. Freight expansion for the first four months was 4.7%. This reflects a rebound in April over weak results for February and March. Distortions due to holiday periods continue to make year on year comparisons difficult.
"While there has been some relief in fuel prices in the last weeks, the current levels are considerably higher than the $38 per barrel of last year. This is the single biggest factor impacting our profitability. Efficiency across the industry's value chain is the only solution," Bisignani said.




 

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Archives | 2005 Q2 : April | May | June

May 2 | May 9 | May 11| May 16 | May 18 |

May 23 | May 25 | May 30

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