[030514.EN.SEA] Moody's Upgrades Global Shipping Industry Outlook To 'Stable'

MOODY's has upgraded its outlook for the global shipping industry to stable from negative, for the first time since June 2011. 

"The revision reflects our expectation that the global industry's aggregate EBITDA will rise by mid-single digits in percentage terms year over year in 2014, in line with our minus five to 10 per cent growth range for a stable outlook," said assistant vice president Mariko Semetko.

"And while overcapacity remains a concern, we believe industry conditions are at a trough and that the supply-demand gap will not worsen materially.

"In this environment, we expect the supply of vessels will exceed demand by no more than two per cent, or that demand will exceed supply by up to two per cent."

Moody's latest report on the shipping sector further notes that cost reductions, including the effects of lower bunker prices, the application of slower steaming speeds and efficiency savings, have driven the growth in profit.

At the same time, market conditions remain tepid, but are not deteriorating, with freight rates for the dry-bulk segment showing some improvement but those for the container segment remaining under pressure.

The sector is also saving on costs through postponing and cancelling deliveries of new vessels, scrapping the oldest and most inefficient vessels, and idling vessels.

Source : HKSG.

[030514.ID.BIZ] MOTOROLA MOBILITY Kemungkinan Lolos Denda Uni Eropa

Bisnis.com, BRUSSEL— Motorola Mobility, yang dilego Google Inc. ke Lenovo Group Ltd., kemungkinan lolos dari denda Uni Eropa setelah berusaha menghalangi penjualan produk-produk Apple Inc. lewat dalih paten.

Bloomberg yang mengutip dua sumber rahasianya melaporkan Jumat (25/4/2014), Uni Eropa (UE) tampaknya hanya akan memerintahkan perusahaan yang berbasis di AS itu untuk mencabut permohonan pelarangan penjualan yang telah dikeluarkan sebelumnya. UE akan membuat pengumuman secepatnya, kemungkinan pekan ini.

Motorola sebelumnya meminta produk-produk Apple dilarang dijual karena melanggar paten. Menurut sumber Bloomberg, UE akan meminta ditariknya permohonan yang menyangkut paten-paten atas teknologi yang diperlukan agar produk-produk tersebut sesuai standar industri.

Atas informasi ini, juru bicara UE Antoine Colombani menolak berkomentar mengenai adanya denda kepada Motorola. Juru bicara Motorola Katie Dove juga enggan memberikan tanggapan.

Pada awal bulan ini, Joaquin Almunia yang merupakan kepala unit persaingan usaha UE, mengatakan segera mengeluarkan putusan atas perkara itu dan memfinalisasi kesepakatan damai dengan Samsung Electronics Inc. pada akhir April.

Pada Februari, dia pun pernah menyatakan berencana mengeluarkan putusan percobaan kepada Motorola yang akan membuktikan perusahaan itu terbukti melanggar persaingan usaha sehat.

UE tengah menyelidiki berbagai penyalahgunaan paten yang dilakukan berbagai perusahaan, setelah Motorola, Microsoft Corp., Apple, dan Samsung berbagi kemenangan di sejumlah pengadilan hak kekayaan intelektual.

Almunia menuturkan dirinya mencoba mengetahui “rules of the game” yang dimainkan perusahaan-perusahaan teknologi untuk mencegah korporasi menggunakan teknologinya untuk persaingan tidak sehat.

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 27.04.14.

[020514.EN.SEA] China Cosco Suffers US$300 Million Quarterly Loss, Revenue off 6.7pc

CHINA Cosco Holdings, the Hong Kong-listed arm of state-owned China Ocean Shipping, sunk back into the red in the first quarter with a loss of CNY1.9 billion (US$300.6 million), similar to the loss made at the same time last year.

Nonetheless, the company reported an annual profit of CNY235.5 million for the whole of last year driven by asset sales while recording that first quarter revenue was down 6.7 per cent year on year to CNY14.2 billion.

Most losses came from the dry bulk division, where volumes were down 24 per cent in the first quarter compared to the first three months of 2013.

Shipping volumes rose seven per cent in the containership division to 2.1 million TEU, but revenues for the unit grew by only 1.8 per to CNY10 billion in the first quarter. China Cosco operates 179 box ships totalling 843,705 TEU.

Declines in volumes were recorded for all cargoes except grain, with volumes up 17 per cent to 5.8 million tonnes.

Costs soared 48 per cent to CNY777.2 million during the reporting period, and pushed up largely because of the yuan's recent depreciation against the US dollar.

Another positive development was the decline in operating costs to CNY13.5 billion for the period ending March from CNY15.3 billion in the first quarter of 2013.

Source : HKSG.

[020514.ID.SEA] Buruh TPK Koja Bentuk Wadah Baru

Bisnis.com, JAKARTA--Bertepatan dengan peringatan Hari Buruh Sedunia atau May Day, 144 Tenaga Kerja Bongkar Muat (TKBM) di Terminal Peti Kemas Koja-Pelabuhan Tanjung Priok membentuk wadah baru sebagai naungan buruh pelabuhan.

Wadah TKBM TPK Koja itu diharapkan dapat mengangkat kesejahteraan buruh pelabuhan dan bisa lebih mandiri dalam memperjuangkan aspirasi.

Selama ini, buruh pelabuhan Tanjung Priok  bernaung pada Koperasi TKBM Karya Sejahtera  sebagai koperasi tunggal  buruh di Pelabuhan Priok yang membawahi ribuan anggota.

Ketua Serikat Pekerja TPK Koja, Prakoso mengatakan merasa kurang maksimal  dengan kinerja manajemen Koperasi. Sejahtera TKBM Pelabuhan Priok , sejumlah pihak  menggagas dibentuknya koperasi TKBM di TPK Koja dan akan menjadi koperasi buruh di terminal peti kemas itu.

"Selanjutnya, TKBM di TPK Koja itu akan beralih menjadi anggota koperasi itu dan keluar dari keanggotaan di Koperasi TKBM Karya Sejahtera yang telah ada selama ini," ujarnya saat peringatan May Day di TPK Koja, hari ini, Jumat (2/5/2014).

Dia menyebutkan, gagasan itu muncul dari hasil “rembugan” antara sejumlah TKBM di TPK Koja dengan Pengurus SP TPK Koja.

Dia mengungkapkan bahwa rata-rata perbulan  uang permintaan menyediakan buruh pelabuhan (amprah) TPK Koja ke Koperasi TKBM Karya Sejahtera  mencapai Rp127 juta perbulan.

“Kami optimis, itu dana yang sangat potensial untuk  bisa dikembangkan dalam rangka meningkatkan kesejahteraan TKBM di TPK Koja kalau kita kelola secara mandiri khusus koperasi di terminal ini,” tutur Prakoso.

Untuk itu kata Prakoso, pihaknya sangat  mensupport  jika TKBM di TPK Koja ingin  membentuk  koperasi tersendiri. “Gagasan itu sebetulnya sudah  lama kita konsep dan tinggal menunggu maunya TKBM saja,” ujarnya.

Prakoso mengatakan pihaknya sudah  mempelajari sejumlah ketentuan baik dari Kementerian Perhubungan maupun instansi lain.

“Tidak ada aturan yang akan dilanggar jika kita membuat  koperasi TKBM  selain koperasi TKBM yang telah ada. Malah ini bagus , karena semangatnya adalah kompetisi dan tidak monopoli,” paparnya.

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 02.05.14.

[010514.EN.SEA] 'K' Line Posts a Profit Gain of 7.3 Per cent to JPY1,2 Billion

"K" LINE, Japan's No 3 carrier, posted the annual year-on-year net profit increase to JPY16.6 billion (US$161.9 million), drawn on revenues to JPY1.2 trillion up 7.3 per cent.

Freight rates in containership sector went on at low levels, especially in Europe service routes, due to the stagnant European economies," said a company statement.

"Despite continued instability of the business performance, including the easing of fuel oil price, which improved profitability and the correction of excessive appreciation of yen, lasted for several years, which increased revenues," it said.

The number of loaded containers transported by 'K' Line group recorded a slight increase in Asia to North America service, while there was a five per cent decrease in Asia to Europe service owing to downsizing capacity stemming from weak European economies, the company said.

The logistics segment continued strong, though there was a drop in outbound air cargo from Japan, which resulted in a drop in revenue and profit.

"Containership business segment as a whole broke even, despite increased year-on-year revenues stemming from the corrected yen appreciation."

East-west routes will take advantage of the streamlining effect anticipated by the alliance between major global container shipping lines, vessel operating costs will be reduced, the statement said.

The group has been investigated by the Fair Trade Commission of Japan in relation to alleged cartel in automotive transport. The group is unable to predict the outcome or penalties, damages and other liabilities.

"An adverse outcome of these investigations may materially adversely affect the business, financial condition and operations," the company warned.

Source : HKSG.

[010514.ID.BIZ] Hari Buruh: Jokowi Ke Kantor Serikat Petani, Ketua Terharu

Bisnis.com, JAKARTA -  Gubernur DKI Jakarta Joko Widodo menyambangi kantor Serikat Petani Indonesia terkait peringatan hari buruh atau May Day yang jatuh pada Kamis (1/5/2014).

Jokowi yang mengenakan kemeja putih dan dikawal oleh para ajudannya tiba di lokasi pada pukul 11.00 WIB.

Sesampainya di lokasi, Jokowi langsung disambut oleh Ketua Umum SPI Henry Saragih. Kepada Jokowi, SPI mengutarakan seluruh permasalahan yang dihadapi oleh para petani di Indonesia.

"Kami terharu bapak Jokowi bersedia mengunjungi kami. Banyak sekali permasalahan tang kami hadapi sekarang, terutama terkait sengketa lahan, pemasaran hasil-hasil pertanian dan impor pangan. Kami minta madalah ini segera dicarikan jalan keluarnya," kata Henry di Kantor SPI, Mampang, Jakarta Selatan.

Dalam kesempatan tersebut, SPI juga menyampaikan dukungannya terhadap Jokowi terkait pencalonannya sebagai salah satu calon presiden (capres) RI selanjutnya.

"Kami mendukung pencalonan Bapak Jokowi sebagai capres. Kami akan membentuk tim pemenangan mulai dari basis hingga tingkat nasional. Besar harapan kami kalau Bapak Jokowi jadi presiden, masalah petani di Indonesia bisa diselesaikan," ujar Henry.

Sementara itu, Jokowi menuturkan kedatangannya di kantor tersebut adalah untuk mendapatkan masukan mengenai permasalahan yang dihadapi oleh para petani Indonesia di lapangan.

" Ke depan kami tidak mau ada lagi lahan-lahan pertanian yang dikonversi jadi permukiman, industri, lahan tambang dan lain-lain. Ini bukan cuma masalah lahan, tapi juga menyangkut produksi pertanian," tutur Jokowi.

Selanjutnya, Jokowi juga menyoroti masalah para petani yang merasa terbebani dengan banyaknya pupuk kimia impor, pestisida impor dan bibit impor.

"Itu memang menjadi tanggung jawab pemerintah. Tapi menurut saya, sebetulnya kita bisa mengolah pupuk itu sendiri, pestisida bisa diolah dari alam dan bibit bisa dikembangkan dengan riset. Kuncinya, harus ada pengawalan dan bimbingan dari pemerintah," ungkap Jokowi.

Lebih jauh, Jokowi pun berjanji untuk lebih untuk lebih fokus pada pembangunan infrastruktur pertanian, pemberian akses modal melalui bank petani serta menyediakan lebih banyak pasar bagi petani untuk memasarkan produk-produknya.

"Masalah-masalah yang berhubungan dengan kedaulatan dan ketahanan pangan itu memang harus diselesaikan. Situasi sulit para petani seperti itu harus kita carikan jalan keluar," tambah Jokowi.

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 01.05.14.

[300414.EN.SEA] PSA: Mega Ships Mean Quay Wastage, Congestion, Late Arrival

MEGA ships bring inefficiencies to quay and stack yard operations as well as declines in schedule reliability, says PSA International CEO Tan Chong Meng.

Mr Tan told delegates of 18th TOC Container Supply Chain Asia Conference and Exhibition at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore, that bigger ships are a mixed blessing.

Mr Tan said 80 per cent of cargo is concentrated in alliances, while 20 per cent of vessels are mega-ships, characterising the development as "three steps forward and two steps back".

Containerships, he said, are now 400 metres long and result in far more "berth wastage" as handling two of them renders 90 metres of a berth unusable while three smaller ships could fit in nicely before.

Of the 52 berths PSA operates in Singapore, said Mr Tan, 20 can handle mega ships, less than 40 per cent of total quay capacity. By 2018, 35 out of 67 berths will be able to handle mega-ships, he said.

"But in terms of kilometres of quay, these 35 berths will take up two-thirds of the total, so it's a much higher investment - our capacity investment is much higher over the next two decades," he said.

Another problem was the effect of the cargo flows from the mega ships when combined with cost reduction such as slow-steaming and voided sailings, reported the British International Freight Association (BIFA) newsletter.

"Schedule reliability is getting worse and reached a new low of 64 per cent of on-time arrivals in the fourth quarter last year, and it doesn't seem to be getting better," he said.

This is compounded by the huge numbers of containers being loaded and unloaded in a single call, which led to far more complexity in yard operations and had a direct effect on landside flows in and out of box terminals, he said.

"We have to find new ways of optimising the supply chain, the upsizing of vessels is only the beginning. The other parts of the supply chain have yet to catch up," said Mr Tan.

Source : HKSG.