CHS opens Hong Kong grain office
CHS, a leading grains, food and energy company, has opened a grain marketing office in Hong Kong.
Rick Browne, CHS senior vice president of grain marketing, said the Hong Kong office is an important step for CHS in enhancing service and execution to its current Asian customers, gaining first-hand market information and promoting CHS as an attractive grain-supply source to new customers and the industry.
CHS grain marketing in the region previously was handled through agency agreements. CHS is the third-largest U.S. grain company and handles nearly 1.2 billion bushels annually, approximately 60% of which is exported. CHS exports U.S. grains and oilseeds, including soybeans, corn, wheat and barley, as well as soybeans from its Brazilian operations.
The Hong Kong office will be managed by Paul Tong and will include Dennis Tsang, responsible for contracts and vessel execution, and assistant Johnny Seto. The three previously worked with CHS through the agency agreement.
HKIA sets new traffic records
Propelled by steady regional and international economic expansion and the surging demand for air transport services, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) set records in all air-traffic figures in the 2006-07 financial year.
HKIA handled more than 45 million passengers and 3.57 million metric tons of cargo, up 8.5% and 2.8%, respectively, compared to the previous financial year. Boosted by the continuously increasing demand for air traffic, aircraft movements reached 283,000, a 4.8% growth compared to the same period last year.
Airport Authority Hong Kong Commercial Director Hans Bakker said HKIA will continue to strengthen its air transport network by adding new destinations and airlines to maintain its competitiveness as a regional and international cargo hub.
On April 17, Yangtze River Express Airlines, a Shanghai-based, all-cargo carrier, commenced services, increasing the total number of airlines operating at HKIA to 86. The new airline started its five times-weekly service flying the Hong Kong-Hangzhou-Qingdao route.
In March, HKIA handled 3.83 million passengers and 24,130 aircraft movements, up 8.4% and 2.3%, respectively, compared to the same period last year. The cargo throughput in March fell 5.4% year-on-year to 303,000 metric tons.
Invest Hong Kong launches Spanish Web site
Invest Hong Kong recently launched Spanish- and Korean-language versions of its Web site [www.investhk.gov.hk]. This is in addition to the existing English, Japanese, simplified Chinese and traditional Chinese sites.
Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong Mike Rowse said he is pleased with the new online services. “We see increasing investment opportunities coming from Korea, Spain and other Spanish-speaking economies. Although we have been active in our promotions in these markets, we felt that providing online services in local languages would help us to reach a new level of potential investors.”
Information available on the sites includes market research on Hong Kong’s competitive advantages, sector-specific information and an introduction to Invest Hong Kong’s free services.
Invest Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government department charged with encouraging and facilitating investment into the city by providing the support needed to establish or expand a business presence here.
Passenger traffic up for Cathay Pacific
The combined passenger numbers and load factor for Cathay Pacific Airways and its wholly owned subsidiary, Dragonair, rose in March compared to the same month last year, while the amount of cargo carried fell marginally year-on-year.
The two airlines together carried 1,866,092 passengers in March, a 2.7% increase compared to the previous year. Passenger load factor for the month was 79.7%, up 3.7% compared to 2006.
Both airlines carried a total of 140,002 metric tons of cargo, down 2% year-on-year, with the cargo load factor down nearly 4%.
Cathay Pacific named top cargo carrier
Cathay Pacific Airways was recognized as the top cargo carrier in the region in the Asia Freight & Supply Chain Awards held recently in Macau. Cathay Pacific was named “Best Air Cargo Carrier — Asia” at the event, reflecting the airline’s commitment to reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as one of the world’s top airfreight hubs. Last year Cathay Pacific set new revenue and tonnage records for its cargo business as it expanded its freighter fleet and increased the number of destinations it operates to.
The Asia Freight & Supply Chain Awards are organised by leading regional transport and logistics newspaper Cargonews Asia and are widely regarded as the most authoritative and prestigious awards for the industry in Asia. The awards cover regional and global markets.
The airline was also recognized for its cargo services in the third annual “Air Cargo Excellence” (ACE) survey conducted by Air Cargo World. Cathay Pacific received a superior overall score to earn an ACE Award for Excellence. Survey respondents representing Cathay Pacific customers voted for the airline in four categories —Customer Service, Performance, Value and Information Technology.
Cathay Pacific currently operates 17 freighters flying to 32 destinations around the world. Two more 747-400BCF “Boeing Converted Freighters” will enter into service in 2007 and in May 2008 the airline will take delivery of the first of six new Boeing 747-400 “Extended Range Freighters” that will primarily operate on Trans-Pacific routes.
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