Europe’s leading air cargo carriers, represented by the Association of European Airlines (AEA), are urging US regulators to accept European security standards and reach a mutual recognition agreement.

Autochannel, a new automated passport control for locals, is expected to speed up immigration lines at Suvarnabhumi and allow better allocation of officers.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has unveiled the city’s Regional Export Plan, which has ambitions to double exports by 2015.

Businesses risk heavy fines or the confiscation of their consignments if goods which they are importing or exporting are not correctly identified, a shipping expert has warned.

South African port operator Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) is to invest R33 billion (US$4.3bn) over the next seven years to boost economic growth and operational efficiency.

The French port of Marseille-Fos has announced that a 200,000sq metre multimodal logistics park will be developed nearby over the next five years.

Amid a backdrop of austerity measures and the need to control public spending, the Spanish government has announced a vast rationalisation programme of state-owned businesses, including several in the freight transport and logistics sector.

Morocco is looking to set up around 70 logistics hubs in 18 of its cities by 2020, as part of a long-term plan to transform the North African state’s supply chain provision.

The UK rail freight industry has cautiously welcomed the government’s new command paper on railway reform, although some key players in the sector have warned against marginalising freight in favour of passenger services.

China is planning to construct what would be the world’s largest cargo airport, near Beijing, in a Rmb30 billion (US$4.8bn) project.