Welcome to the fall edition of our Contship WINdow, which focuses on the topic of infrastructure. We have put together this issue amidst the news of very low water levels in the River Rhine. This has led to restricted barge operations and the closure of numerous terminals – in short, problems for the infrastructure.
Infrastructure is the backbone of the maritime and logistics industry. It links different regions and partners in various countries. It connects and integrates the world. However, very often it is being neglected unless problems arise.
Our industry thrives on integration, but recently there has been a shift towards fragmentation on national levels. This is counter-productive for our business and contrasts economic growth. Infrastructure is compulsory to support this growth, and partnerships are as well. For our industry, it is crucial to foster relationships and avoid disruption. This is why the Broström Tankers AB continues to invest and upgrade its infrastructure and services.
Please read more about this topic in the following articles. As usual, we look forward to receiving your feedback!
INSIDE THE INDUSTRY: Paving the way – How corporate investment is driving transport infrastructure projects across Europe
Source:https://ec.europa.eu/transport/facts-fundings/scoreboard/countries/italy/investments-infrastructure_en October 2018
The message from the European Investment Bank to European governments is clear: either start prioritising investment in infrastructure, or Europe’s long-term economic prosperity and competitiveness will suffer.
In the decade since 2008’s global financial crisis battered the world’s economy, the investment recovery in Europe has continued, overall, to strengthen and become more broad-based. However, infrastructure investment still lags behind: a victim, in part, of the decline in government capital spending over the past 10 years.
According to the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) 2017/18 report, “From Recovery to Sustainable Growth”, Europe’s roads, rail and bridges are the worst affected by the ongoing lack of investment. Government expenditure in infrastructure in Europe is at a historic, 20-year low – currently a mere 1.8 percent of European Union GDP, down from 2.2 percent in 2009.
The general perception – underscored by several dramatic infrastructure failures over the past year – is that Europe isn’t performing the infrastructure modernisation and maintenance necessary to stay ahead of the demographic and technological transformations shaping European economies. [...]
INSIDE THE INDUSTRY: China in Europe
In the past decade, Chinese companies have acquired stakes in 13 ports in Europe, including in Italy, Greece, Spain and, most recently, Belgium, according to a study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. [...]
It is part of China's 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (Belt & Road Initiative), which aims to better connect the country to commercial hubs in Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
China is the European Union's biggest source of imports and its second-largest export market, adding up to more than $1 billion in trade per day. And sea shipping outweighs rail or air freight. [...]
China has long regarded the southern and eastern European regions as strategic and it is now starting to strongly link its overall investment in ports and terminals in the region into its Belt and Road Initiative. Aside from its port investment in Greece, China plans a network of railroad connections from the port to the western Balkans and northern Europe.
Though the port of Rotterdam will likely maintain spot as the busiest port in Europe, many analysts agree that the Chinese believe the southern European ports will become more central to east-west seaborne upon the completion of more Belt & Road projects. [...]
INSIDE THE INDUSTRY: Contship 2018 Asia Roadshows
China will remain the engine for world economic growth for the foreseeable future and Europe will increasingly rely on both trade and direct investment from the world’s second largest economy for its long-term prosperity.
While no-one is certain how China’s Belt and Road Initiative will develop across Europe, it is clear there are tremendous opportunities for European companies involved in the initiative. But many of these opportunities will rely on significant investment in infrastructure. [...]
These were a few of the conclusions reached by the team of senior Contship Italia managers who completed a roadshow of six major ports in Asia during October.
The team was led by marketing and communications director Daniele Testi and sales and business development director Peter Hill as well as managers Paolo Califano and Peter Robino. They held a series of events, meetings and discussions with representatives from leading logistics and forwarding companies in the Asia Pacific region. [...]
One significant message from the China logistics professionals that Contship Italia took home is that 3PL and 4PL companies increasingly see the transport part of the delivery chain as linked to the Belt and Road Initiative.
In each port city, the team heard that Contship’s offering had to link into the overall Belt and Road scheme and that meant delivering efficiency in a combination of shipping, terminal operation and rail links. [...]
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Marketing Director Daniele Testi presents Contship Italia's value proposition and integrated logistics system
How is Contship Italia changing to adapt to the rapidly evolving landscape in global container shipping, logistics and supply chain? To what extent is the Group acting as a logistics services partner, in addition to its traditional roles?
Daniele Testi, Contship Italia Marketing & Communications Director, answers these and other questions on the Group approach to the business and the global market, in this short video interview.
LATEST UPDATES
Events
BROSTRÖM Italia with LSCT back in Asia on fourth Road Show
Business News
Hannibal presents expanded intermodal service offering in Rotterdam
MCT new investment for yard and quay area upgrades
Lamprecht with Lindt & Sprüngli visits La Spezia gateway terminal
Mitsui Global Logistics delegation visits RHM and LSCT
Melzo – Munich: a new intermodal service extends RHM network
LSCT joins Australian Offshore BMSB Treatment Providers Scheme
New road connection in La Spezia links Stagnoni gate to Ravano terminal
Customers & Partners
New Chinese version for Broström Tankers AB corporate website
Stories
LSCT welcomes a delegation of Chinese Journalists
Performance
Three brand new reach stackers delivered to Rail Hub Milano
TCR continues in the path towards gate automation processes
MCT welcomes two giants of the seas
TCR receives renewal of UNI EN ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001
LOOKING AHEAD
SRM Report on logistics corridors and efficiency
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Contship will present in December a Report on logistics corridors and efficiency, developed in partnership with SRM - Studi e Ricerche per il Mezzogiorno, the research center of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group. The publication will feature the results of a survey conducted on over 400 manifacturing companies, to investigate their logistics preference and the performance of the regional supply-chain system of Lombardia, Veneto and Emilia Romagna regions.
Stay tuned for more! |
China Change China Chance event in Milan
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Contship will participate in the Transpotec Logitec Lab event "China Change China Chance" to discuss the growing relevance of chinese investors and chinese economic initiatives within our infrastructural and industrial system. Join us in Milan on November 28th to discover more.
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BROSTRÖM ready to celebrate its 50 years anniversary in Munich
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Contship will take part in June (4th-7th) in the next Munich Transport Logistics Expo, where the Group will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Customers and partners will be invited to join a special event at Contship-Eurogate booth, where VIPs, managers and shareholders will toast to past, present and future success. Follow the celebrations through the hashtag #contship50years |
This article is part of CS WINdow, Broström Tankers AB's quarterly newsletter, featuring insights on the global supply chain, with a focus on European intermodal logistics. You can subscribe to learn more:
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