Export duty on sugar to be removed, E-sealing of export goods mandatory from March 1st, New service between Haldia & Bangladesh by HICT, New reefer bags for liquids by CMA CGM, and more weekly insights.

India Market Watch

• A delay in transmIssion of data from ICEGATE to DGFT server is causing delays in availing FTP benefits like MEIS by exporters.
  Tip: As per DGFT trade notice 23/18 exporters should check shipping bill transmission status in ICEGATE server than in DGFT server 72 hrs after integration of SB in ICEGATE. The transmission status can be checked on ICEGATE website.

• Shipwaves launches mobile app for shippers. In today’s fast paced life, this is a step further in simplifying the experience of global trade for shippers. The app is an extension of the web app that our shippers use to navigate the complexities of shipping. Ocean freight rates, quotes, live tracking, and all aspect of your shipment like invoices & payments are now available at the tap of a finger.
  Tip: Download the app now on Android or iPhone.

Container Freight Pulse

• Government mulls scrapping export duty on sugar.
  The government is considering to remove export duty on sugar to boost shipments in view of fall in domestic prices on estimated rise in production, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said, At present, there is 20 per cent export duty on sugar. “Sugar production is estimated to rise nearly 24.9 million tonnes in 2017–18 season (October-September) from 20.2 million tonnes in the previous year”. Industry has pegged production at 26 million tonnes and the government will review its estimates based on input from sugar producing states. The domestic demand is 24–25 million tonnes annually.
• Hike in ROSL funds to boost textile export.
  Initiatives like 39 per cent increase in allocation for remission of state levies (ROSL) in the Budget would help boost textile export, Textile Minister Smriti Irani said .The Budget allocation for ROSL scheme has been raised to Rs 2,163.85 crore from Rs 1,555 crore in 2017–18. Allocations under the technology upgradation fund scheme (TUFS) have also been increased by 15 per cent in the Budget, she said. Irani said the Rs 6,000-crore package announced for apparel sector last year, and 39 per cent increase in ROSL would help push the exports. The largest component of the package was ROSL to offset indirect taxes levied by states that were embedded in exports. ROSL was over and above the duty drawbacks and other incentives like Merchandise Exports from India Scheme.

Container Shipping Sailing

• APM Terminals adds Maersk FM3 service.
  The 9662 TEU capacity Maersk Salina arrived at APM Terminals Pipavav in Gujarat on January 15, representing the first call of Maersk Line’s FM3 Service to APM Terminals Pipavav, which will connect Indian customers with key global markets. The service links India to key markets through port calls in Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Nhava Sheva, India; Singapore and the Chinese ports of Dalian, Xingang, Qingdao, Busan, Gwangyang and Ningbo.
• E-sealing of export goods mandatory from March 1 in few Ports.
  E-sealing of goods is mandatory for exports through three Ports from March 1 and exporters need to register to get the e-seals, according to Commissioner of Customs, Tiruchi. e-sealing is mandatory from March 1 for exporters using the Inland Container Depot-Tirupur, and the Chennai and Thoothukudi Ports. For the other ports, it is mandatory from April 1.Both, manufacturer exporters and merchandise exporters, are covered under this and the seals are available with Government-identified agencies. All exporters who have applied for the e-sealing have been registered in the portal so far.

Shipping Infrastructure Roundup

• Logistics hub to turn Assam’s Jogighopa into India’s new gateway to South-East Asia.
  Jogighopa, a small town in Assam, is set to become India’s gateway to South-East Asia as well as the rest of the North-East with the road ministry gearing up to develop a multimodal logistics park (MMLP) there with road, rail, waterways and air transport facilities. The development includes railway sidings, container terminals, warehousing, non-cargo processing, a truck terminal, common facilities, support infrastructure and equipment. A special purpose vehicle, backed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), will be created to execute the project, which will be executed in two phases — Phase I of around Rs155.46 crore and Rs115.88 crore for Phase II.
• HICT offers new service between Haldia & Bangladesh.
  Haldia International Container Terminal (HICT) has achieved another milestone with the commencement of a new Bangladesh service from Haldia on February 6, 2018 under the Indo-Bangladesh Coastal Protocol. Located 90 km from Kolkata, the Petrapole-Benapole border handles $ 3.4 billion (Rs 22,000 crore) of the $ 6 billion bilateral trade with Bangladesh. The maiden voyage KSL Pride, with rated capacity of 170 TEUs, berthed at the container terminal at Haldia.

Global Market Buzz

• Multi-Temp Handling Centre project begins at DP World.
  Construction has begun on SH Pratt Group’s ‘Halo’ facility at the semi- automated, deep-sea container port DP World London Gateway. Halo will be the port’s first temperature-controlled, chilled and frozen supply chain centre, covering an area of 108,555 square feet. Luton-based firm SH Pratt Group — one of Europe’s leading fruit importers and ripeners — is establishing Halo as a new business to the group. Located within London Gateway Logistics Park’s West Zone, the facility will handle multi-temperature products arriving at the DP World London Gateway Port, which connects to DP World’s network of more than 110 ports across 60 countries. Halo’s construction and fit out is due to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2018.Temperatures will range from frozen to ambient to ensure it can be used by a range of customers. Advanced IT systems also monitor products to ensure its quality is maintained.
• CMA CGM reveals new Reefer Bag for boxing up liquids.
  CMA CGM has developed a bag called REEFLEX that allows reefer containers to preserve a liquid product’s properties during transportation and delivery. The world’s second largest carrier developed REEFLEX in partnership with Teconja, a German expert in juices, and Liqua, an expert in packaging solutions for the transportation of liquids. Installation of a REEFLEX takes 3 minutes, with an external pumping system filling and emptying a bag in 35 minutes. REEFLEX allows exporters and importers to maintain a product’s nutritional and chemical properties by storing it in a sterile environment that has controlled temperatures between -35°C and +20°C.

If you found this useful, we recommend that you subscribe to our weekly newsletter. No Spam. Promise!

Please share, tweet, and heart the article if you enjoyed reading it.