Data has been released by the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) for the global air freight markets highlighting a 10.4% growth in the first half of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. The data, measured in freight tonnes kilometres (FTK) highlighted the strongest performance since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in 2010, nearly triple the industry's average growth rate of 3.9% over the last five years....read the full article here

In New Jersey USA last week, a bankruptsy court heard that creditors of South Korea's Hanjin Shipping are likely to see a return of less than two cents to the dollar. Trustees tasked with attempting to recover funds told the court that claims approved so far totalled US$10.2 billion, yet recoveries had just reached US$220 million and many more claims remain to be processed..... read the full article here

A multi-agency operation between the The New South Wales Joint Organised Crime Group (JOCG) made up of members of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), NSW Police Force (NSWPF), Australian Border Force (ABF), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) and NSW Crime Commission (NSWCC) dismantled a global criminal syndicate, with eight people arrested in Sydney and one in Dubai for their involvement in an alleged conspiracy to illegally import drugs and tobacco into Australia....read the full article here

In mid-November last year, Japanese shipping company Nisshin Shipping sold three 84,000 dwt Panamax bulk carriers to Greek shipping company Transmed Shipping for USD 16.75 million each. Then in the following month, Nisshin Shipping sold off their Panamax bulk carrier to an unknown buyer from Greece. The 82,700 dwt ship, previously known as Nord Hercules, was acquired by Nissin for USD 10.8 million....read the full article here

A joint venture between Maritime Container Services (MCS) and GrainCorp will see a new $14 million grain container packing facility being built at Sydney's Cooks River Intermodal Terminal. The new facility will take grain offloaded from bulk trains and pack it into 20-foot containers ready to be moved the roughly 8km to Port Botany for export. The new facility is being built by Australian Grain Handlers and would benefit the rail mode share going in and out of Port Botany.....read the full article here

TGIF! It's always nice to unwind a bit on a Friday to celebrate surviving the working week. We can't vouch for the humour in these jokes but have a look anyway....have a laugh here