Saudia Cargo targets China business through TAM JV

Saudia Cargo has announced a joint venture (JV) agreement with Hong Kong-headquartered GSSA TAM Group to establish a "Saudia Cargo Global" entity that will focus on enhancing commercial reach, service capabilities, and customer engagement in Greater China and Asia-Pacific (APAC). Saudia Cargo Global will introduce enhanced services specifically tailored to the diverse needs of the Greater China market, with plans to further expand into APAC, said Saudia Cargo. These services include optimised freighter operations leveraging Hong Kong's strategic location, advanced e-commerce logistics solutions to capitalise on the region's e-commerce trade, plus specialised pharmaceutical shipment services. TAM Group will offer its market knowledge, relationships, and operational skills to optimise the local execution of Saudia Cargo's plans. The JV follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Saudia Cargo and China Henan Aviation in May to work on developing new cargo services. And in April, Saudia Cargo and China Cargo Airlines signed an MoU aimed at developing interline agreements and capitalising on trade growth between Saudi Arabia and China. Loay Mashabi, chief executive and managing director of Saudia Cargo, said: "Saudia Cargo Global marks a transformative step in our global expansion, underscoring our deep commitment to the dynamic Greater China market as well as the wider APAC region. "Our partnership with TAM Group is a strategic evolution reflecting our long-term dedication to the region and our sustainable global growth. Leveraging TAM Group's expertise and our robust network, Saudia Cargo Global will unlock new opportunities, enhance customer agility, and significantly strengthen regional and international trade through five dedicated freighter hubs. "This venture, aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, is crucial for diversifying our economy, boosting non-oil exports, and accelerating the Kingdom's rise as a global logistics hub." Tam Wing Kun, founder and chairman of TAM Group, added: "We are immensely proud to partner with Saudia Cargo in this transformative venture, which marks a significant milestone in our longstanding relationship. "Since 1986, TAM Group has worked hand-in-hand with Saudia Cargo, and this joint venture is a natural next step in our shared commitment to the region's growth. The Greater China market, with Hong Kong at its heart, is a vibrant, rapidly evolving landscape, and we're confident Saudia Cargo Global will become a dominant force in its air cargo industry. "Looking ahead, our combined strengths, deep market insights, and unwavering commitment to excellence will enable us to provide customers with innovative, efficient, and reliable logistics solutions that drive their success. "Hong Kong's incredibly crucial position allows us to serve the Greater China region and beyond, including Southeast Asia and key worldwide markets while also aligning perfectly with the Hong Kong SAR government's initiatives to strengthen ties with the Middle East."

CMA CGM boosts its maritime footprint in India and eyes coastal trade - The Loadstar

The French transport group has added the chartered 4,395-teu SCI Mumbai to its India-registered fleet, according to industry sources. Help us to continue to invest in award-winning independent journalism. For an introductory offer of just £70 a year, or £10 per month, get access to all our daily news stories and opinion. If you are already a registered user, please login below with your current account's email and password to subscribe. If you are not registered and want to subscribe, please register below to subscribe.

Emirates SkyCargo warns of payload constraints due to additional ...

Emirates SkyCargo has warned of potential payload constraints as a result of its aircraft taking on extra fuel due to the ongoing conflicts and geopolitical disruption being experienced in the Middle East. The Dubai-headquartered cargo airline confirmed the measure yesterday and warned that it could impact the amount of cargo it can carry on flights leaving the city. "Due to ongoing geopolitical instability in the region, additional fuel is being uplifted on flights departing from Dubai. This may result in payload constraints and shipment offloads," the airline said in a statement. "We appreciate your understanding as our teams work diligently to minimise disruptions and ensure shipments are delivered as soon as possible." The extra fuel uplift is not the only measure being adopted by Emirates SkyCargo as a result of the Israel-Iran conflict. Like the majority of carriers, the airline also has an embargo in place covering Iran and Iraq. The carrier said its embargo on operations to Tehran, Baghdad, Erbil and Basra would remain in place until 30 June at the earliest. Airline operations to the Middle East have been facing disruption since Israel and Iran began launching missiles against each other on 13 June. Since then, airlines have been re-routing flights around Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Kuwait, meaning extra fuel has been taken on. Airlines have been adding cargo embargoes to many of those countries. Meanwhile, several airlines cancelled flights to Dubai and Doha over the weekend and on Monday as the US also launched missiles against Iran. And Qatar Airways temporarily grounded its flights out of Doha yesterday as Iran responded to the US attacks by launching missiles at US bases in Qatar and Doha. Despite the disruption, cargo capacity to and from the Middle East region appears to be holding firm compared with the start of June. Rotate figures show that cargo capacity from the Middle East to Europe stood at 13,000 tonnes between Saturday and Monday, around 1,000 tonnes less than between 7-9 June. In contrast, cargo capacity from Asia Pacific to the Middle East was up between the two periods by 2,000 tonnes to 18,000 tonnes.