All WWL articles
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ArticleRewriting the rules
Russia’s Industry and Trade Ministry wants OEMs to make huge investments in new production capacity in Russia over the coming decade, in order to continue qualifying for state aid. A bill laying down the basis of a new national localisation strategy was published in August that is designed to replace ...
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ArticleManta reports huge increase in vehicle traffic
The port of Manta, in northern Ecuador, has reported a doubling in the volume of finished vehicles it handled over the first seven months of this year to 42,056 units, compared to 20,691 units in the same period last year.Roberto Salazar, president of Manta Port Terminals (TPM) – the private ...
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ArticleTrusting the market will stay afloat
European vehicle-handling ports saw growth in vehicle vehicle volumes in 2017, however geo-political worries – not least Brexit – is causing concerns. Ports continue to invest but there are worries over future volumes and capacity levels.
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ArticleBlockchain technology: Quicker off the blocks
As global trade intensifies, so do the risks associated with cyber-breaches, fraud and limited visibility for shippers to track and trace international shipments across the end-to-end supply chain. While digital connectivity introduces a whole new set of risks and potential disruptions to global trade, big data and industry stakeholders, breakthroughs ...
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ArticleWWL restructures to meet changes in car market
Finished vehicle services provider, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL), has been restructured into two divisions. Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean (WW Ocean) will focus on the movement of vehicles and rolling stock by sea and will operate alongside a separate land-based logistics entity named Wallenius Wilhelmsen Solutions (WW Solutions).“The new branding reflects the ...
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ArticleEC fines shippers and parts suppliers for price-fixing
The European Commission has issued fines for price-fixing totalling €546m ($668.7m) to a group of four shipping companies handling finished vehicles and, in three further cases, three tier suppliers of spark plugs and braking systems.Four of the major providers of ocean services to the automotive and commercial machinery sectors were ...
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ArticlePort users bemoan slow progress at Veracruz
Carmakers and logistics providers have expressed frustration over the slow pace of expansion at the congested Mexican port of Veracruz.The port is working to install new infrastructure to support growing automotive volumes, which reached 1.03m units last year (up 13.5% on 2016).The project includes a completely new landside and berth ...
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ArticleThird-party logistics: Future fields of opportunity?
As with most things in life, change is a constant in automotive logistics, but in finished vehicle distribution that doesn’t seem to hold as true. As one observer wryly comments about vehicle logistics: “The way of doing things is cemented because that’s how it’s always been done.”Being asset heavy, fewer ...
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ArticleEmergency response: Weathering the storms
A volatile 2017 hurricane season saw successive storms hit the US south-east and the Caribbean, counting at least 500,000 vehicles in the US alone among its many damages and leading to emergency planning once again gaining a greater level of prominence within the finished vehicle supply chain. While matching the ...
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ArticleMelanie Moore takes up lead sustainability role at Wilhelmsen
Melanie Moore (pictured) has taken up a newly created role as head of sustainability at Wilh. Wilhelmsen, the global ro-ro shipping line and maritime services provider based in Norway. Moore moves from her role as director of health, safety and security at the company.Moore said the role reflected the group’s ...
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ArticleRoad transport in Mexico: no time for reflection
About three years ago, trucking capacity for the movement of finished vehicles in Mexico was a big concern. Trucks are used for the delivery of all finished vehicles for the domestic market there, as well as supporting rail in moving vehicles to and from ports, and there were simply not ...
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ArticleWWL links Spain’s port of Vigo to South America
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) has added the Spanish port of Vigo to its Atlantic Ocean service, which supports the movement of finished vehicles, breakbulk and rolling stock between Europe and South America via the US and Mexico.The Norwegian-based global ocean services provider will call at Vigo on a monthly basis, ...
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ArticleWWL takes a Keen interest in US high and heavy market
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics ASA (WWL) has bought US high and heavy trucking company Keen Transport from private investor Platinum Equity for $64m.With a revenue in 2016 of $82m, Keen operates 14 high and heavy equipment processing centres (EPCs) in the US along with a trucking fleet supporting 20 customers. As ...
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ArticleMoving with market currents
Growing sales prompt rising shipmentsThe first half of 2017 has seen a partial recovery in deep-sea shipments of new light vehicles. Management consultancy Maritime Strategies International (MSI) estimates that global shipments will be up around 3% during the first half of 2017, compared to the same period in 2016.According to ...
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ArticleWWL sells Australia inland transport business to Prixcar for a 20% stake
Norwegian transport and logistics provider, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL), has confirmed it will sell its inland transport and technical service business in Australia to local finished vehicle logistics services provider Prixcar, in exchange for a 20% share in that company.WWL would not confirm what that share of Prixcar was worth. ...
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ArticleWWL reports positive third quarter thanks to ocean trade and cargo mix
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) has reported strong results for the third quarter this year thanks to what it called "continued positive development in ocean volumes and cargo mix" across global lanes, including shipments of mining equipment. The company also said that progress was being made in its organisational restructuring and ...
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ArticlePlugged in for progress
Evolution of CCS charging technology for e-cars towards 350 kW" width="500" height="500">The last two decades have seen the emergence of the alternative propulsion vehicle market from almost nothing. According to PwC Autofacts data, sales in 1997 across all hybrid and electric vehicles numbered about 6,000 vehicles. This year, the ...
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ArticleFCA seeks reparations from global ro-ro carriers for Shipping Act violations
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has sent a complaint to the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) seeking damages from six shipping companies it says acted to suppress competition for ro-ro services it purchased along with other carmakers.The move follows action taken by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) after an investigation into ...
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ArticleMexico rail vs sea: No easy route for exports
Figures from the Mexican Automotive Industry Association (AMIA) show that between January and June this year, more than 85% of the passenger cars and light trucks made in the country were exported to the US and Canada – equal to almost 1.3m units out of a production total of nearly ...
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ArticleRo-ro carrier faces fine for anti-competitive behaviour in South Africa
Norwegian ro-ro carrier Höegh Autoliners has been referred to South Africa’s Competition Tribunal for charges relating to collusive tendering, price-fixing and market division.The country’s Competition Commission, which referred the case, is seeking an order obliging the company to pay an administrative penalty equal to 10% of its annual turnover on ...