Title: Vietnam Shipper No. 62
Date: (01-12-2009)

Seafreight

Top US ports to recover by 2013

As the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach post another round of dismal monthly import statistics, a new assessment finds that the nation\'s busiest seaport complex will need at least four more years to fully recover its momentum - not to mention the jobs, incomes and revenues that went with it - after the worst global recession in 60 years, the Los Angels Times reported.

 

The recovery will be so slow and painful that a return to the pace set during the economic boom year of 2006 - when the ports handled 15.8 million cargo containers bound for most parts of the US - won\'t come before 2013.

That is the grim conclusion of a new report produced for the local ports but not released to the public.…(Read more on Vietnam Shipper Issue No. 62)

 

 

Supply Chain Management

Happy Holidays!…That Is, If Your Supply Chain’s Well Trimmed
The holiday season is fast approaching, and while this has always meant heightened anxiety for manufacturers and retailers, this year promises to be particularly tumultuous. Following record low holiday sales in 2008, manufacturers and retailers are no doubt bracing themselves for the worst—particularly given that unemployment continues to rise and money is tight. And with many companies already severely hobbled by the downturn, this holiday season could be do-or-die not only for retailers, but for the manufacturers, suppliers, and logistics providers that support them.

 

But pessimistic thinking and fear-based decision making is hardly the strategy to be adopted this holiday season. In fact, it is the surest track to failure. Fear and pessimism are contagious, and the last thing needed this holiday season is yet another reason for consumers to be wary. What is required instead is a renewed optimism and ardor—governed, of course, by a well-equipped supply chain and close-knit partner relationships. The road to recovery is neither quick nor sure, but companies armed with intelligent supply chain strategies will assuredly arrive there first.…(Read more on Vietnam Shipper Issue No. 62)

 

 

Logistics

Logistics vs. supply chain management: similar or different?

In our country, logistics and supply chain management have become topics discussed broadly in recent years. They have been considered to be very important in any firm. One vague point is whether logistics and supply chain management are the same and used interchangeably or they are different concepts. This matter makes confused many people not only in Vietnam but also in the world.

 

Logistics evolution

The below figure illustrates different stages of logistics evolution. In the first stage, logistics activities are isolated; there is no connection between them. Because of disintegration, one decision can benefit one aspect whereas deteriorate another one. For example, deploying mass production can reduce production unit cost; on the other hand, it will make higher cost for inventory and warehousing cost. Overall, total cost can go up instead of decreasing.…(Read more on Vietnam Shipper Issue No. 62)

 

Airfreight

The World\'s Top 50 Airports

As cargo demand shows some modest inventory-led growth toward the middle of a dreadful 2009, the world’s airlines and airports await signs of a possible rebound in global commerce.

OAG offered a “glimmer of economic confidence” last month, reporting that the global airline capacity for June showed a year on year decline below three percent for the first time since last October.

 

“This may be the 11th successive month of cutbacks in global airline schedules; however the rate of decline in seat capacity is lower than at any time since October 2008, ” the aviation data company said in its June report on trends in the supply of airline flights and seats. .…(Read more on Vietnam Shipper Issue No. 62)