Data2Logistics Neighbor Port Everglades Named Top Exporting Trade Zone

Port Everglades’ Foreign Trade Zone No. 25 in Florida was ranked as the top foreign trade zone in the U.S. for exports (measured by warehousing and distribution activity) by the Foreign-Trade Zones Board’s 73rd annual report to Congress. Port Everglades’ 66 percent annual export activity rise garnered them the glory.

Congrats – nice going neighbor! Keep on keeping our supply chains kicking!

A USPS Sustainability Step, Private Sector Freight Carrier Capacity Brace

The US Postal Service Board of Governors stated that despite achieving record growth in its package business and stabilization of other revenues, the Postal Service continues to operate with an inflexible business model that hinders its ability to be self-sufficient.

The US Office of the Inspector General suggested a step toward solution that would impact our industry: the Postal Service could generate additional revenue of $17.4 million in 2013 and 2014 by increasing government shipping contracts.

If the USPS can increase revenue by becoming a US government primary carrier, it’s a step towards sustainability of the entity relied upon daily as a commercial and consumer service. The fiscal flipside concerns private sector carriers impacted by the contracting shift. If business demand remains robust, the net result should be utilization of the additional capacity. Shippers would benefit from the increased options created by new availability in the marketplace.

Something lucid in USPS sustainability discussions is the shocking size and scope of the organization. Here’s content from their official communications; they’d be missed if their reach ceased to exist.

“A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation — 151 million residences, businesses and Post Office™ Boxes. The Postal Service™ receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. With 32,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, usps.com®, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $65 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 35th in the 2011 Fortune 500.”

Data2Logistics Launches Ecommerce Expeditions Canvassing Industry Supply Chains

Data2Logistics announces launch of ecommerce expeditions, the new daily publication covering news and views of moving ecommerce. The information’s reach includes those whose business plans are parallel with their supply chain’s success. Have a look...

Data2Logistics – Supply Chain Carriers Incentivized to India for Cost Savings; Shippers Want In?

India’s second-largest container gateway Chennai Port Authority announced a new one-year concessional program for vessel-related charges levied on mainline calls. Port officials said that this revision, replacing concessional rates announced in January 2010, would remain active through Dec. 31, 2013. “As the previous was advantageous only to a few mainline container vessel operators, the new concessions has been formulated taking into consideration the number of voyages, volume and gross registered tons of vessels,” the authority said.

Here’s the carrier draw: to remain competitive with other ports in the region, Chennai’s concessions range from 20 to 55 percent on prescribed service fees applied by the port authority. And they want carriers to bulk-up their volumes: “The quantum of concessions would be worked out based on the total mainline container volume achieved by a particular service run by individual mainline vessel operator or service partner during the year linking with GRT of vessels,” it said.

With the country’s surging public sector international investment incentives, India’s serious about becoming a truly open, fully engaged marketplace. Their timing’s terrific, as nations globally will benefit from expansion a billion-consumer base can provide.

Want in on the savings, to/through India, or elsewhere? A shipper’s fiscally beneficial option: consult Data2Logistics for transportation savings domestically and globally. Data2Logistics assists with supply chain network analysis, freight spend trends identification and cost reduction action, carrier services measurement, RFQ/RFP management (when and how to go to market) and leverage pooled purchasing opportunities across business units, geographic regions and freight consortiums.

Redefining Infotainment - Data2Logistics Optimizing Supply Chain and Logistics Freight Rates Video

Data2Logistics video from Supply Chain and Logistics Summit, focus on optimizing freight transportation rates to reduce shipping costs and increase operations flow. Rated ok for the kids to view; probably more interesting to you (no singing actors in animal costumes – yet…).

Data2Logistics Providing Parcel Shipping Analysis Study Addressing 2013 Carrier Cost Increases

Fort Myers, Florida and Rotterdam, Netherlands January 22, 2013 – Global supply chain information and technology company Data2Logistics announces the company’s Professional Services Group’s freight parcel analysis study for supply chain cost savings addressing 2013 price increases. The analysis identifies shippers’ exposure, impact and options to mitigate avoidable supply chain transportation costs by determining what portion of their parcel expenditure is exposed to pricing increase, data mining shippers’ historical supply chain flow to determine service efficiencies and associated cost savings, in light of this years’ air and ground parcel price increases. The objective of the analysis is to optimize appropriate service levels per shipment and enhancing transportation transparency and efficiency, while minimizing cost.

“With the new year, announcements were made of higher parcel shipping rates by the major carriers, at a time when companies are faced with demand for supply chain cost reduction to offset tightening product profit margins,” states Leif Holm-Andersen, Data2Logistics’ Executive Director of Professional Services. “Our analysis study indicates shippers’ impact to actually exceed carriers’ announced increases. Data2Logistics identifies shippers’ options to reduce these costs to offset rate increases, optimize freight transportation by reducing unnecessary shipping spend, and ensuring companies are being charged their correct rates via business intelligence data mining. Ultimately, the goal is improvements in shippers’ cost reduction and in relationships with their carriers.” Data2Logistics’ parcel air and ground shipping analysis study may be obtained by contacting Holm-Andersen, leif.holm-andersen@data2logistics.com.

Is Hong Kong’s Blueprint for Global Economic Interaction the World’s Pathway to Prosperity?

Washington, D.C.-based research and advocacy institute Heritage Foundation has Hong Kong topping its 2013 Index of Economic Freedom, for the 19th consecutive year.  The Index, which ranks 177 global economies, measures 10 fiscal freedom factors. Among them Hong Kong retained its top position in trade and financial freedom, ranked second in investment freedom and property rights, and another silver medal in the business freedom race.

Hong Kong’s governmental long-standing policies actively supporting open market participation, fostering international investment and attractive import-export trade parameters, has created a sustainable guide for nations seeking to finance infrastructure improvements, foster local employment and establish economies based on generating production capacity and export demand, along with an appetite for internationally-sourced products encouraged by growing national household incomes and discretionary currency. And they accomplished this economic establishment amongst China’s emerging economy, a nation who took notice of their neighbor’s prosperity and borrowed a few playbook pages for their benefit.

It’s worked remarkably well for China, proving even a communist-ideological country can benefit from spot capitalism powered by international investment and trade. Is it possible that Hong Kong – and China, who’s in a more closely financially identifiable state for achieving emerging status – be guides for countries seeking economic continuity?