By the end of the year, the arrival of the peak shopping season has brought greater challenges to international logistics transportation. To this end, international logistics and transportation companies such as FedEx, DHL, and Maersk have come up with countermeasures: FedEx has added 3 new flights and expanded its capacity by 4 flights; DHL opens cargo flights from Guangzhou to Cincinnati; Maersk has adjusted some shipping routes and plans to deploy four overtime ships in December
In fact, in the context of the global spread of the COVID-19, the contradiction between consumer demand and the serious shortage of international logistics supply is still intensifying. In the post pandemic era, coupled with factors such as economic globalization and trade protectionism, how to stabilize the international logistics supply chain will be one of the challenges that the industry needs to focus on solving in the long term.
The recently released "14th Five Year Plan for the Development of Comprehensive Transportation Services" provides a "China Plan". The plan points out the need to build a safe and smooth international logistics supply chain service system. In order to create a new pattern of all-round opening up to the outside world and build a new system of higher-level open economy, we will focus on forming a fully functional, three-dimensional interconnection, and coordinated transportation network of land, sea, and air, and promote the safe and efficient development of domestic and international dual circulation.
Since last year, problems such as port congestion, container shortage, and skyrocketing freight rates have continued to ferment. According to comprehensive VesselsValue Trade and AIS data, a total of 2.366 million TEUs (international standard containers) and 181.6 million DWTs (deadweight tonnage) are currently on hold worldwide due to waiting for berths.
Accelerating the improvement of the global shipping service network is a major concern of the plan. The plan points out the optimization of specialized maritime transportation systems for coal, crude oil, ore, containers, liquefied natural gas, and other industries. It encourages enterprises to improve the global maritime trunk network, expand international shipping routes with overseas investment ports as nodes, promote the commercial utilization and normal operation of Arctic shipping routes, further increase the scale of third-party shipping routes, and promote the construction of a blockchain based global shipping service network. Optimize the scale and structure of maritime fleets, develop liquefied natural gas fleets, and further enhance the international competitiveness of container, crude oil, dry bulk, and special transportation fleets. Deepen the construction of a "single window" for international trade, optimize the supervision process of inbound and outbound ships and goods, support the construction of big data sharing platforms at ports, and promote the facilitation of maritime transportation. Cultivate several world-class port construction and operation companies, as well as comprehensive service providers, strengthen the efficient connection between ports and China Europe freight trains, the Western Land Sea New Corridor, the China Europe Land Sea Express, etc., and provide services to support an open pattern of land sea and domestic linkage, as well as east-west mutual assistance.
Promoting the high-quality development of China Europe freight trains is also an important part of building an international logistics supply chain service system. The plan points out that we will promote the upgrading and renovation of the "bottleneck" sections of the China Europe West, Central, and East Passages, and actively open up new overseas paths. Vigorously develop transfer and assembly trains such as additional hanging and supplementary axles, and ladder assembly, promoting the transformation of the operation mode from "point-to-point" to "hub to hub". Scientifically and reasonably formulate the operation plan of the China Europe freight train, dynamically adjust the operating routes, and promote the intensive utilization of route resources. Strictly control empty containers on outbound trains, support inbound trains to carry out mixed transportation of domestic and foreign trade goods on international trains based on containers, and strive to achieve "re removal and re return". Continuously promote the development of "integrated transportation and trade", promote the establishment of a comprehensive supply chain service platform, and actively develop "e-commerce trains".
According to the plan, by 2025, the return rate and comprehensive heavy container rate of China Europe freight trains will increase from 43.8% and 98.4% in 2020 to 45% and 95% respectively.
In terms of "enhancing the capacity of air cargo services", the plan mentions supporting the growth and strengthening of air logistics enterprises, encouraging strategic cooperation and asset restructuring between traditional air cargo enterprises and logistics leading enterprises, expanding the scale of air cargo fleets, and scientifically and orderly developing all cargo transportation. Integrate aircraft belly cabin resources to improve the efficiency of existing routes and capacity utilization. Intensify international air rights negotiations and support domestic airlines in expanding their international air cargo route networks from China to South Asia, Africa, Latin America, and other regions. Accelerate the renovation and upgrading of cargo facilities at hub airports. In airports with strong cargo supply capacity, improve cargo flight schedule policies, further optimize flight schedule resource allocation, and support airlines in building cargo flight waves. International air cargo hub airports in areas such as Beijing Tianjin Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, Guangdong Hong Kong Macao, and Chengdu Chongqing that meet the conditions have achieved "7 × 24" hour customs clearance, meeting the demand for rapid air cargo clearance. Establish a logistics information platform for airlines, freight forwarders, and freight stations to share and exchange information, and improve the digitalization and informatization level of air cargo.
In addition, the plan also proposes to "improve the facilitation level of international road transportation". Give full play to the role of the National Committee for Facilitation of Transport, and improve the level of connectivity and facilitation. Promote the implementation of the central financial authority reform for the entry and exit transportation of automobiles at border ports, and implement the central expenditure responsibility. Promote the signing and implementation of bilateral international road transportation cooperation documents, and open up direct transportation channels between China and Europe. Promote cross-border drop off transportation, promote the development of cross-border intermodal transportation such as land sea intermodal transportation between China and South Korea, and actively build the China ASEAN multimodal transportation alliance. Improve the international road transportation management and service information system based on Beidou, and promote information exchange and sharing with customs, immigration and border inspection, public security and traffic management departments. Research and promote the exchange of information and data related to international road transport with Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Türkiye and other countries along the "the Belt and Road". Promote the optimization of the international road transportation business environment, guide enterprises to grow and strengthen, and support enterprises to go global.