Extreme fluctuation in general cargo rates

A growing trend towards smaller rural areas in the East being used to manufacture and produce items for export has seen ports continuously opening up and growing the import/export channel. “For companies like ours, which are Far East based and owned and focused on this market, the growth is important,” says Martine Forbes, director of Linex Air Services. “We will use our expertise and skills to grow the business in and out of this region.” Part of the Lenton Group, Linex has its head office in Hong Kong and offers an extensive Far East footprint. As The GSA for Cathay Pacific Cargo/Courier the company understands the challenges and complexities of doing business in the region, says Forbes. “The main challenges are protocol and bureaucracy. What is important is to always make sure that you are on top of the many changes that happen in a very short time frame in many ports in the Far East. These changes are driven by local customs authorities and can seriously hamper the transit times and the handling of shipments. Having local people who speak the language and specialists who are experts on customs rulings is critical to managing these challenges.” Forbes believes that the Far East will continue to show positive growth in the year to come. “We have already opened new offices in the region this year to keep up with the growth and market diversification. The opening up of new ports in Hangzhou, Xiamen and several offices in Asia and Vietnam is paying off with volumes on these new routes both in and out of the Far East already picking up.”