The size of the Philippines contract logistics market is expected to upsurge hitting P71 billion in 2020. As a result, Philippines is projected to become a global hub for logistics providers.In a report entitled “Philippines Transport & Logistics 2015,” the country’s potential to become a major hub for logistics will profoundly depend on its efforts in encouraging internal investments by manufacturers in the country. While the Philippines is currently lagging behind other countries in Southeast Asia, the report stressed that the country could improve its performance in logistics if it ceased capitalizing severely on out...

The international air transport association (IATA) notes that air cargo industry is in a “solid but unspectacular growth trend.”Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO called for the removal of international trade barriers and encourage governments to work in partnership with other governments to boost the global trade industry.“The growth in air cargo markets has shifted down a gear.  World trade and air cargo are still growing, but only in line with industrial production. Removing barriers to trade in line with the world trade organization (WTO) trade facilitation agreement (TFA) would deliver a much needed...

The U.S. transportation regulators unveil new rules regarding tank cars transporting crude oil, ethanol and other flammable liquids. The directive tightens crude-by-rail shipments by requiring trains be equipped with the new expensive brake system.Announced on Friday, the new safety railcar rules not only include the specification of brake control system but as well as the enhancement of tank cars standards and speed limitations.Trains carrying large amount of crude oil are subject to 30 mile per hour speed restriction. This will be imposed to the trains not equipped with the new electronic brake system by 2021. High volumes of ethanol and ot...

With the rapid escalation of the internal conflict in Yemen, the country’s food security threatens to deteriorate. The ongoing political crisis of the country proved to be causing currency depreciation and disruption to the supply of basic goods. According to the United Nations, World Population Prospects, Yemen is a developing country with an estimated population of more than 25 million people as of 2015. This number is expected to double in the next 20 years.The country’s food and water production capacity is limited, thus Yemenis import 90% of them to feed over 25 million people. Yemen relies on the international market for f...

There has been an extended internal conflict within Yemen that has seen battles as well as airstrikes by Yemeni forces and regional forces that have intervened.X2 received a notification about this from its Italian member C.T.I. SpA.Additionally, due to the port closure, any shipments destined for Aden have been rerouted to Jeddah.For those who have taken a look at our Quarterly Newsletter that was released just yesterday, we have written an article focusing on the MENA region. It’s an area with a significant amount of potential and much of its young population is rich in ambition. However, it is also a region that has been mired in co...

Amazon has received a special “experimental airworthiness certificate” from the FAA. Although seemingly insignificant, what seemed like an impossibility in the United States has now changed. Although initially limiting, the certificate does provide Amazon with the legal ability to conduct research, testing, and training of its Prime Air delivery drone concept outdoors.The public learned of Amazon’s delivery drone concept in December 2013 and released a highlight reel that of footage shot outside of the US. The reason for this was because Amazon did not want to violate any FAA regulations.But, with it’s latest move, A...

Below is a special message from Richard Overton, the CEO of X2 Logistics Networks.On this date two years ago ….X2 Elite was established and had its beginnings with a core group of founding companies supporting me with my vision for X2 from the offset.In the 2 years that X2 Elite has been growing and developing, we have now reached a membership of 153 members representing 121 countries. While doing this we have been able to maintain market balances and in many cases, denied applicants to the group because of market membership caps. We have developed extensively and we are now working hard to drive our niche specialty groups and to consta...

The US west coast and supply chains around the globe breathed a sight of relief as it was announced that a tentative agreement had been reached and the US west coast ports will be opened. Although the effects won’t be immediate, if the agreement is ratified, traffic through the port should be back to normal levels and flow within a few months.Late Friday last week it was announced that the parties involved had reached a tentative agreement that in the end could result in a 5 year agreement.The ILWU represents about 20,000 workers throughout 29 ports along the North American west coast, including the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach....

X2 USA member AWA provided us with a link that contains some stunning images of the back up caused by the dispute between unions and port management up and down the west coast of the United States of America.The images found in the link below show the back up on both land and sea outside of the ports at Los Angeles and Long Beach in the USA.The situation is growing increasingly dire and some of the American public have begun to voice their concerns and ask when and if the government might step in and press for a resolution and stop the continuing economic impact of slow and what some would say as nearly stopped trade.Look at the photos here.&...

Costing A$40 a kilogram in Australia and A$60 for the same kilogram in Hong Kong, the live sea snail is a prized ingredient for Chinese cuisine.As high profits are available due to the demand of the consumers in China who seek only the finest of traditional cuisine, airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, and Qantas are carrying these live sea snails in their luggage holds for what is an 8,000 kilometer journey.After gold and medicine, food is Australia’s biggest air export with a total revenue of A$1.6 billion and of that abalone and lobster account for A$761 million. An increase of about 30% from the last year. In total ...

Starting this Sunday, January 25th, the members of X2 Logistics Networks will be gathering on what will become X2 Island until January 28th. This is the first boutique logistics networking experience that has ever been offered to the members of any logistic network that has been created. It’s something new and it’s something different. X2 is changing the industry and this is a leap forward in the difference that X2 brings to the landscape.While on Coconut Island, or X2 Island, we will be enjoying the beauty and environment that is available to us for this time that is different from that of the traditional business hotel. Tradit...

If you have yet to see the announcement that was broadcasted to all members via email or have been a little too busy to keep tabs on the rapid updates as we approach the 2015 X2 Conference, I would like to make this clear:THE 2015 X2 CONFERENCE 1:1 MEETING SCHEDULER IS OPEN!!This year it is possible to schedule meetings with both Richard Overton and Shane Hebzynski. These meetings will allow members to ask the questions that they personally want answered while allowing a more intimate environment for the Network Management to speak about where the network has come from and where the network is going in the next year.We encourage all members t...