GlobeNewswire is a news distribution platform that drives brand awareness and boosts the online visibility 0f international companies
Globalia Logistics Network, a freight networking covering 170 cities across 106 countries, has created a media partnership with GlobeNewswire. GlobeNewswire is one of the world’s largest news distribution networks that provides real-time news releases from corporates helping them to reach an international audience.
Globalia’s media partnership with GlobeNewswire
They specialize in the distribution of corporate press releases, financial disclosures, and multimedia content to media, investors, and consumers worldwide. At the moment, they are covering over 130 countries in 35+ languages.
In the words of Antonio Torres, the President and Founder of Globalia Logistics Network, “Globalia’s media partnership with GlobeNewswire will increase the online visibility of the network. Additionally, it will drive brand awareness and generate media coverage by targeted news distribution to media and consumers worldwide.”
Click on this link to check out the website of GlobeNewswire.
This course focuses on several industry related topics like commercial documents and regulatory compliance, dangerous goods transportation, export packaging and more
Globalia Logistics Network’ has cooperated with logistics training provider and freight forwarders association CIFFA to offer its members logistics courses that boost their careers. To begin with, Globalia launched a course on International and Transportation and Trade, which was a success. The upgraded course, Essentials of Freight Forwarding, will start on 15th September 2022. Members participating in this course need to devote at least 65 to 75 hours of study time and complete it within three months. The deadline for this course is 15th December 2022.
Globalia’s online logistics courses
Click on the above image to view the course details
Members can register for this course till 14th September 2022. Globalia agents looking forward to joining this course needs to access the Members’ Area and click on the “logistics courses registration” button, on the dashboard on the left of the page. Candidates registering for this course will get to take the Masterclass on SOC Containers provided by Container xChange at no extra cost.
The course will cover several freight forwarding topics like commercial documents and regulatory compliance, dangerous goods transportation, export packaging, alternative transportation solutions, quote creation, risk management with several international payment methods, cargo insurance, etc. Moreover, course participants will get to access fully narrated lessons with case studies to put the candidates into real-world scenarios, and e-textbooks which they can view on up to three devices.
The CIFFA course on Essentials of Freight Forwarding has been designed by professionals who have been providing students with the highest level of education in freight forwarding over the years. This freight forwarding course is suitable for people working in the logistics industry who wants to further their career as well as for newcomers in this sector who want to get an in-depth knowledge of this industry.
Click here for further details on the Essentials of Freight Forwarding course.
Although the container shipping industry is gradually coming back to normal after two years of destabilization caused by the pandemic, the freight forwarding companies are still struggling with numerous hurdles. The port congestion, the sky-high fuel prices, the lockdowns in China and the war in Ukraine are just some of the factors that are still hindering normal operations. Nevertheless, on the brighter side, even though the sea freight shipping rates are still above the pre-pandemic times, there has been a substantial drop in the spot rates in 2022.
The challenges in the container shipping industry
As stated by Mrs. Rania Skouta, the operation Manager of Feroniki SA, Globalia member in Piraeus Greece, “I have to admit that in the past months we have faced many problems such as delays because of the situation in ports of Singapore, Gioia Tauro and Tekirdag where we ship cargoes frequently. Nevertheless, we have managed to overcome the crisis and continue serving our clients in the best possible way.”
Some of the ongoing problems in container shipping could result in a new supply chain crisis and rate fluctuations. For example, there is a high probability of backlogs of cargo piling up in the ports in China. In a situation like this, freight forwarders need to take extra precautions and keep all options open.
“The fall in the sea freight rates is welcome news for us. Nevertheless, there are still many challenges lying ahead of us. My teammates are working round the clock to keep tabs on the vessel’s availability and check if they meet the requirements of our clients. Additionally, we are checking the surcharges for each month and the percentages and BAF/CAF, etc, or if there is any PSS. Next, we are making sure that the vessel in question is available on the confirmed dates. Once all the work is done, we just secure the required equipment in time for the loading to meet the cut-off of the subject vessel with the confirmed rates. The rest is monitored by our team 24×7,” adds Mrs. Skouta.
Container shipping industry challenges as explained by Feroniki SA
She further points out, “Although the reduction of the rates is a great benefit for the shippers, we are still having to face problems relating to port congestion and equipment availability. The war in Ukraine and the lockdowns in China are further adding to the problems. For instance, many shipping lines have suspended services to/from Greece for several reasons. Moreover, finding equipment in the Far East is becoming a tricky affair primarily because of the local lockdowns.”
The drop in sea freight shipping rates
“Right now it is a good time for the ocean freight industry as rates are slightly decreasing. This will allow us to obtain more shipments and offer very competitive rates.” The steady decrease in sea freight shipping rates that started at the beginning of 2022 is still ongoing. The prices fell further in the lean season following the Chinese New Year. In the last two years, several factors hiked up the shipping cost. These factors included container and equipment shortage, port congestion, and insufficient workforce.
The average international spot rate decreased by almost 4 % at the start of April 2022. Shipping rates on the transpacific routes went down for the fifth week in a row. Freight rates to the US declined by around 6%-8%. Additionally, since April the overall sea freight rates have decreased by a whopping 12%.
Many industry experts are wondering if the decreasing rates is because of lower demand. Some are suggesting that it could indicate the revitalizing efforts of the industry and that there could be a sharp increase in capacity from the 3rd or 4th quarter of 2023.
Reasons behind the decreasing freight rates
The China factor
The decreasing volume of shipments following the peak during the Chinese New Year could be another important reason behind the price drop. Moreover, the lockdowns in Shanghai and other manufacturing centres in China are also a contributing factor. The normal functioning of the air freight industry could be another reason behind the declining prices.
The impact of the normal functioning of the air freight industry
During the pandemic a large number of passenger planes were grounded. As a result, forwarders couldn’t use the belly hold of the passenger flights for transporting shipments. This led to further pressure on the sea freight sector. The normal functioning of the air freight sector has freed up space for the ocean freight industry.
Changes in consumer demands
The two years of the pandemic witnessed a massive increase in consumer demands and e-commerce shopping trends. The spending pattern of the consumers has finally returned to the pre-pandemic level. The inflation and the rise in fuel prices around the world surely prompted consumers to cut down on spending. This obviously had significant consequences on space availability in the container shipping industry. More space availability definitely has helped to lower the freight rates.
“At the moment we are trying to make the best of the situation by further boosting our relationship with our partners, suppliers and customers. Years of steady cooperation is an important factor that has allowed us to continue providing our clients with dependable door-to-door transportation services. The flexibility and persistence of our team along with our longstanding connections, are some of the reasons why we are always able to support our customers with a range of solutions even in these uncertain times,” concludes Mrs. Skouta.
Globalia wishes Feroniki the very best for their upcoming projects!
After over two years, Globalia members from nearly 130 countries will assemble under one roof to reinforce their partnerships by meeting face-to-face under both formal and informal settings
Globalia Logistics Network’s 4th Annual Meeting will take place at Le Meridien Beach Resort in Phuket, Thailand from 15th to 17th March 2023. For the first time since the pandemic over 193 agents are gearing up to participate in an in-person meeting at the tropical beaches of Phuket. Just like Globalia’s previous face-to-face meetings, the conference will include a Welcome Cocktail Reception, a Gala Dinner party, and around 6000 one-to-one meetings between network members.
Globalia Logistics Network’s 4th Annual Meeting
Click on the above image to visit our Annual Meeting Page
Each member will get to take part in 32 one-to-one meetings with their network partners. Face-to-face communication will bring a sense of community to the network. Moreover, the conference will allow the agents to socialize and interact which in turn will make way for trust and a better working relationship. More importantly, the in-person conference will majorly facilitate securing new business opportunities while strengthening the ties among Globalia members.
Additionally, this year Globalia is organizing a half day sight-seeing tour to Phi Phi Island. This optional group tour will allow members to discover some remarkable spots in and around the island. Additionally, apart from letting the members explore the marvels of Thailand, it will also promote friendship between network members, and foster a sense of goodwill and camaraderie within the Globalia team.
Registration for the Annual Meeting is now open. Visit our Annual Meeting page for further details about the conference.
They are sending bi-weekly vehicles to the Ukraine border for transporting the humanitarian aid donated in New Forest, England
Oceanside Logistics, Globalia member in Southampton, England, is sending out bi-weekly vehicles from the UK to Polish-Ukraine border with charity and humanitarian aid in response to the Ukrainian conflict. They are doing the commendable task of bearing the entire transportation cost for moving the humanitarian aid donated in New Forest. Each shipment is costing the company more than 1,000 Euros.
To begin with, they moved 100 boxes of toiletries and other goods to the Polish-Ukrainian border.
To quote Mr. Harry Green the Director of Globalia Southampton, “We are proud to help the New Forest Benefice with assisting the people of Ukraine. Each day it is getting more difficult to send charitable goods into Ukraine, so we are happy to do our part to get this aid where it needs to go.”
Their original destination was a church in Lviv. However, because of increasing military strikes by Russia, they couldn’t find a driver to take the goods into Ukraine. “After a week of issues we have been able to find a church in Poland who will take the goods and get them to the Ukrainian refugees,” adds a spokesperson from Oceanside Logistics.
Many congratulations to Oceanside Logistics for this commendable effort!
“In the last few years, the global supply chain sector has been busy implementing digitized services to better serve its customers. Digitization in logistics helps to speed up the response time, manage freights bookings on spot, and make the documents accessible any time you need.”
This week we interviewed Mrs. Rania Skouta, the Operation Manager of Globalia Piraeus. In this interview, Mrs. Skouta talks about the beginnings of her company, its expansion, the industry challenges, and the road to the future.
Q. When and how did you get into the freight forwarding industry?
A. I joined the freight forwarding department with specializations in operation. To begin with, I was in search of the right field for me, and in fact, I was a little apprehensive if I could fit into this sector. However, I instantly fell in love with this line of work and started to successfully execute many operational tasks in the freight forwarding sector.
Rania Skouta from Globalia Piraeus
Q. Can you tell us a little about the history of Feroniki?
A. Our company was founded back in 1985 by Mr. Papagianopoulos. Back then, Feroniki used to operate solely as a customs broker. In 1993, Mr. Papagianopoulos decided to expand in the transportation and logistics industry. In the same year, he created the freight forwarding department under the same company. Since then, we never looked back. Over the years, we have achieved several milestones, forged strategic alliances, made significant investments, expanded our workforce, acquired important certifications, and presently we count on a network of trustworthy international logistics partners. At the moment, we are living up to our expectations by considerably expanding the scope of our business as well as our profits.
Q. What distinguishes Feroniki from other freight forwarders in your city?
A. First and foremost, it is our excellent team that distinguishes us from other forwarders in Piraeus. My teammates are experts in their fields who know exactly what it takes to keep up to the expectations of our customers. Our intimate knowledge of the sector, our connections with carriers and international agents, along with the flexibility we offer, prompt our customers to come back to us for all their logistic needs. Clients all around the world are looking for one thing- an easier solution for their transport. This is precisely what we offer.
We own three offices in the city. One office is entirely dedicated to customs clearance, one for our freight forwarding department, and last but not least our head office. Moreover, since we offer comprehensive logistic services including shipping, clearance, and transportation, there is no need for our customers to contact other agents. Lastly, we offer quality services at a very affordable rate. This is yet another factor behind our success.
Q. What are the challenges facing the freight forwarding industry at the moment? How is Feroniki dealing with the challenges?
A. The pandemic was surely the most pressing challenge this industry had to face in recent years. Moreover, the increasing competition, the challenge posed by the multinationals, and the move toward automation are also significant hurdles for independent freight forwarders. In these difficult times, we are constantly working hard to improve our services and meet the requirements of our customers. The right attitude & willingness to find the solution for the shipment are the two keys to bypassing the challenges.
‘Over the years we have achieved several milestones, forged strategic alliances, made significant investments, expanded our workforce, acquired important certifications, and presently we count on a network of trustworthy international logistics partners.
Q. How do you think technology is changing the freight forwarding industry?
A. In the last few years, the global supply chain sector has been busy implementing digitized services to better serve its customers. I am a big enthusiast of online freight forwarding services. It enormously simplifies the task, reduces the chances of errors, keeps the customers satisfied, and helps us save a lot of time. Additionally, digitization in logistics helps to speed up the response time, manage freight bookings on spot, and make the documents accessible any time you need. Moreover, it allows agents all over the world as well as customers to access these documents. Feroniki has acquired the top of the line digital systems and advanced technological equipment to ensure client convenience, cargo safety, and the utmost protection of the customers’ personal data.
Q. From your own experience, which are the keys to success in the freight forwarding industry?
A. The route to success is to be resilient in the face of challenges. My motto is to keep on learning and improving and to not give up under any circumstances. My message to independent freight forwarders is to be fearless, persistent, and open to new things.
Globalia members with shipments to/from Piraeus, Greece, are invited to get in touch with their professional team.
The ‘case by case’ feature in FreightViewer is enabling them to efficiently calculate personalized quotations for each client
Alden Global Logistics, Globalia member in Ankara, Turkey, has generated over 100 quotations in FreightViewer. Additionally, they have built a detailed customer database which enables them to calculate personalized and accurate quotes within a few minutes. As stated by Mr. Yalcin in an interview with Globalia’s team, “FreightViewer gives us a productive experience of creating an offer for our customers. Moreover, since the platform saves a record of older quotations, it becomes very easy to follow our success rate with our customers”
Globalia’s Transport Management Software- FreightViewer
Globalia Ankara started using FreightViewer right after joining the network about six months ago. To begin with, they scheduled a demonstration with Globalia’s FreightViewer Department which provides personalized training to all members. After this demonstration, the use of the platform was easy for the team. As Mr. Yalcin states, “At first, I had some difficulties understanding how it does operate. Later, I received a short introduction by FreightViewer personnel and understood how easy it is to use the platform.”
Alden Global is using FreightViewer for automatizing the quotation process by using the “case by case” feature. This is allowing their Sales Department to calculate personalized quotations for each client. Furthermore, the system also facilitates the modification or amendment of the quotation so that all extra costs or new offers can be calculated and added to the quotation once it’s saved in the Quote List. Mr. Yalcin states that “FreightViewer also allows us to evaluate and understand our client’s target prices after multiple offers.”
He believes that Globalia’s TMS will help members to take the first step towards digitization. Additionally, he encourages all agents in the network to start using FreightViewer for a more efficient workflow between companies. “I would like to recommend it to my network partners. The participation of the members is very critical to make fast quotations to work on FreightViewer. I believe it will be very useful for all agents.” adds Mr. Yalcin.
Globalia made available FreightViewer for the first time back in 2018. Since then, this platform has come up as a reference software for the network members. What distinguishes this tool from other transport management softwares like iContainers, Freightos or Flexport is the fact that over 193 network members can access this platform for free. Consequently, it allows the members to access the freight rates of reliable network agents from across 130 countries.
They have also substantially expanded their team by acquiring four new employees
Feroniki SA International Shipping Forwarding, Globalia member in Piraeus, Greece, has managed to keep up its targets and increase its profit margin significantly. In 2021 they accomplished an increase of 50% on their profit based on their previous year’s results. They have achieved a net profit of 144k Euros in 2021.
As stated by Mrs. Rania Skouta, the Manager of the Operation Documentation Department of Feroniki, “We have managed to augment our profits in 2021 even with a lack of personnel. This year it will only get better as we have welcomed 4 new employees who will surely add further value to our team.”
Feroniki SA- logistics company in Piraeus
They have welcomed four new employees who have joined their company in various departments. Mrs. Rania Skouta – who has many years of experience in this sector – has joined their team as the Manager of the Operation Documentation Department. Mr. Nickolas Christofakakis has started working with Globalia Piraeus as operation leader since January 2022. Mrs. Maria Frantzeskaki has joined them in the customs clearance department under the filing role. Mrs. Skendi has become a part of their accounting department. She is in charge of payments and filing. All of them have assisted to increase the number of clients of Feroniki as well as the profit of the company.
“The new teammates have assisted to increase our number of clients. Furthermore, our new recruitment in the team is literally increasing the profit every month. I strongly believe that our expertise in combination with Feroniki’s longstanding reputation in the logistics industry will be the key to further expansion,” adds Mrs. Skouta.
Congratulations to Feroniki SA and all the best for their upcoming projects!
Their former Executive Vice President Mr. Willy Seong has taken up the position of the new CEO of the company
Willy Seong, the CEO of Globalia Seoul
Heung-A-Logistics Co Ltd, Globalia member in Seoul, South Korea, has appointed a new CEO for their company. Their new CEO – Mr. Willy Seong – formerly served the company as the Executive Vice President. The appointment took place on the 1st of April 2022.
Mr. Seong started his carrier in the sales department when he was a freshman. Additionally, he has extensive experience in the ocean freight sector as well. Recently, he is focusing on venturing into areas like shipping strategic military goods, chemical products, and RoRo shipments.
In his words, “My years of experience as a sales executive will allow me to better handle our customers. This is the primary reason why the company selected me as the CEO. I am excited about taking up this new role! However, being a CEO entails a big responsibility, especially at a time when markets all around the world are getting more competitive.
Lastly, I would focus on fostering better relationships with my network partners and I sincerely hope to develop more projects with them.”
Congratulations to Heung-A-Logistics and all the best for their upcoming projects!
They took care of the entire logistics of this cargo that was moved from the USA to the consignee’s doorstep in Brazil
LAC Worldwide do Brasil Transportes Internacionais, Globalia member in Itajai and Sao Paulo, moves a shipment consisting of two sculptures. They transported this sensitive and high-value shipment from Miami, USA, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The cargo had approximately 1,000 kg of cubic weight.
LAC Worldwide do Brasil Transportes Internacionais were responsible for every aspect of this door-to-door shipment. To begin with, they moved the sculptures to a warehouse in Miami that specializes in luxury and fine art collections. They also arranged for equipment for truck lifting and lashing. Next, they moved the cargo to their warehouse for inspection, fumigation, and labeling.
LAC Worldwide – independent freight forwarder
Following this, they moved the shipment to the airport with tracking and escort. The cargo flew from Miami to Viracopos, where they removed the cargo in customs transit with an escort to a customs terminal to carry out the customs clearance process. In the next step, they delivered the two works of art to the client’s house in Rio de Janeiro. During the last phase of the transportation, they had the cargo escorted and monitored by satellite.
Following this, they moved the shipment to the airport with tracking and escort. The cargo flew from Miami to Viracopos, where they removed the cargo in customs transit with an escort to a customs terminal to carry out the customs clearance process. In the next step, they delivered the two works of art to the client’s house in Rio de Janeiro. During the last phase of the transportation, they had the cargo escorted and monitored by satellite.
To quote Mr. Luiz Gustavo Avesani Moura, the CEO of Globalia Sao Paulo/Itajai, “The most challenging aspect of this project was the successful handling without any claim for such sensitive and high-value items. Moreover, in addition to logistics, the LAC customs clearance division was responsible for all tax planning and customs clearance. A big shout-out to my entire team for yet another successful accomplishment!”
Congratulations to LAC Worldwide for successfully delivering this high-value shipment!
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