We are delighted to announce the opening of our new office in Hong Kong. We now have our own office in Hong Kong, headed by Frank Hung, who will represent Interfracht with a team of five.
We wish him and his team a successful start and all the best for the future!
Here are some photos from this week’s grand opening ceremony.
This year, the annual meeting of the WPA network “Worldwide Partner Alliance” took place once again. This network comprises nearly 300 partner freight forwarders worldwide. It consists of service-oriented transport and logistics providers for air and sea freight, including payment protection through an integrated Payment Protection Plan.
Every year the WPA Network awards prizes for outstanding achievements. This year we received the “Global Winner – 2024/25, Excellent Communications” award. This was our fourth award in a row.
We are very honored and thank all our partners for the trust they have placed in us!
We are pleased that, thanks to our loyal customers, we have been recognized as a revenue millionaire by Lufthansa Cargo again this year. As a business partner of Lufthansa Cargo, our customers benefit from preferred booking confirmations and more reliable departures.
We thank all participants for the great collaboration and support and look forward to a continued successful future partnership.
Our subsidiary Panatlantic Logistics International GmbH looks back this month on 25 successful years – a quarter century of reliable transportation of hazardous materials of class 1.
Founded in 2000 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Interfracht Holding, Panatlantic ensures safe hazardous material transports. As one of the few freight forwarders in Germany, Panatlantic has specialized vehicles and all the necessary permits for the transport of hazardous materials of the complex class 1. The regularly trained specialist staff ensures safe and smooth delivery, across Germany and Europe.
The newly built warehouse in 2023 completes the service of Panatlantic. It provides optimal conditions for the storage of goods and commercial products, including hazardous materials of class 1.4.
We are very proud to have been successfully working together with Panatlantic Logistics International GmbH for 25 years and thank our entire team for their trust, passion, and the great moments!
We look forward to the coming years of joint innovation.
On September 1, 2025, the annually recurring fumigation obligation against the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) begins.
This affects all goods that are shipped from Germany to Australia or New Zealand starting from September 1, 2025.
All shipments coming from high-risk countries, which need to be fumigated must not be sealed or wrapped in foil, among other things.
It is pointed out that, for example, a wrapping net should be used instead. Additionally, no food, pharmaceutical products, or seeds may be loaded into the consolidated cargo containers.
Please note that goods in the LCL sector will already be fumigated before September 1.
The fumigation obligation ends for goods to Australia with departure from Germany on April 30, 2026. For goods to New Zealand, the obligation ends with ETA New Zealand on April 30, 2026. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our export colleauges.
After renewed negotiations this week, an agreement has now been reached between the ILA (International Longshoremen’s Association) and the USMX (United States Maritime Alliance). Both parties have agreed on a modernisation of the ports that will preserve all existing jobs and create more jobs through the introduction of new technologies, rather than being lost. A new contract for six years was concluded. Fortunately, renewed strikes in the US ports of the East and Gulf Coasts could be averted.
After the strikes in October in the ports of the U.S. East and Gulf Coast, the existing collective agreement between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) was extended until January 15, 2025, but further negotiations in November failed. The parties were able to eliminate one of the major points of contention with increases in wage costs. However, there is no agreement in sight on the second major difference on the automation of the handling programs. The ILA is very concerned that many jobs might be replaced in case of mechanical automation is further used. However, the USMX wants to use new technologies to increase the efficiency of port operations and at the same time create new jobs. The last round of talks in November was broken off early because no compromise could be found.The extended contract expires on January 15, 2025. Thus, new strikes are to be expected from January 16, 2025, if no solution is found by then.
For these reasons, massive delays/ cancellations of vessel departures/ spontaneous diversions, as well as considerable additional surcharges may occur. Unfortunately exact consequences can’t be predicted. For any questions please do not hesitate to contact our customer service directly.
As of January 1st, 2025, the EU ETS surcharge ( = Emissions Trading System) for shipping companies will be increased from 40% to 70%.
This is part of the EU Commission’s “Green Deal” to reduce transport-related emissions by 90% by 2050.
Since January 1st 2024, maritime transport has also been included in the EU emissions trading system. This affects shipping companies operating between European ports in the EU or the European Economic Area. These levies are intended to promote the use of renewable energies and low-CO2 fuels. For this reason, increased surcharges on the part of shipping companies are to be expected from January 1st 2025. Over the next few years, the levies will be gradually increased further.
We are very pleased to announce the opening of three Interfracht offices in China. From now on, we have our own offices in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Ningbo.
Clark Liu will take over the management of the offices in China. We wish him and his team a successful start and all the best for the joint future.
We are looking forward to a good cooperation.
