Kanoo Machinery, a leading provider of world-class industrial machinery and solutions in the region, showcased a range of its advanced machinery at the Kanoo Machinery Open Day held recently at its facility in the Saudi port city of Jeddah. 

 

The Open Day, held on February 11, featured live displays and demonstrations of newly launched equipment, including the Grove TMC Crane, as well as handover ceremonies for recently acquired machines. 

 

The event was attended by prominent industry leaders, business partners, and customers, who had the opportunity to explore advanced solutions designed to improve and enhance operational efficiency across industries.  

 

It served as a platform to showcase Kanoo Machinery’s state-of-the-art machines and equipment from its esteemed partners and principals, said the company in a statement.

 

A key highlight of the event was the signing of a strategic agreement between Kanoo Machinery and Wacker Neuson, a leading manufacturer of construction equipment and compact machines. 

 

This partnership will enable Kanoo Machinery to distribute light construction equipment from Wacker Neuson across Saudi Arabia, it stated.

 

Ahmed Fawzi Kanoo, Board Member Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo, said: "The Open Day event opened doors to enhanced collaborations and new partnerships with stakeholders across the value chain, while showcasing our future-ready offerings in the machinery space."

 

"We remain committed to staying at the forefront in offering high-quality, reliable, and customer-centric services to meet the evolving needs of the construction industrial sectors in KSA and the GCC region," he added.

 

The Saudi Arabian market, especially in the Western region, is witnessing rapid growth, attributed to the presence of large-scale infrastructure projects such as NEOM and ongoing developments in Makkah, Madinah and Jizan. 

 

Kanoo Machinery remains committed to supporting these initiatives by offering its cutting-edge machinery and equipment ensuring that their products and solutions are in-line with current and upcoming projects within the region, noted Kanoo. 

 

The strength of Kanoo Machinery is its comprehensive after-market solutions, parts showrooms and dedicated customer service centers spread across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, he added.

 

Manoj Tripathy, CEO of Kanoo Industrial & Energy, said: "It was a pleasure hosting the Kanoo Machinery Open Day at our Jeddah facility, which provided us with valued interactions with our esteemed clients, suppliers, and industry professionals."

 

"The event highlights our emphasis on providing excellent service and building long-term relationships with our diverse client base," he added.

 

With over 60 years of expertise, Kanoo Machinery continues to be a trusted industry leader, providing reliable, high-quality solutions to meet the evolving needs of its diverse client base.-TradeArabia News Service

Reciprocal tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump on ‘Liberation Day’ could prevent shippers from making important decisions on supply chains, but are not likely to cause an immediate spike in freight rates, said a leading freight services expert.

 

"Liberation Day will not feel very liberating for those shippers caught in the eye of the tariff storm. It is tough to make important decisions on your supply chain when the rules of the game keep changing," remarked Peter Sand, Chief Analyst at Xeneta, the ocean and air freight intelligence platform.

 

"Many US shippers are right at the point of agreeing new long-term ocean container freight contracts coming into effect on 1 May, so this puts them in an extremely difficult position. Where will they be importing goods from in the next 12 months and which carrier should they choose?," he stated.

 

The tariffs will increase the overall landed cost of importing goods, but Sand has stated the downward trend in ocean container spot rates since 1 January is likely to continue.

 

"At this point we do not expect significant upward pressure on ocean container freight rates. Carriers did push spot rate increases on trades from the Far East to US on 1 April, but these are unlikely to stick as they come off the back of steady market decline since 1 January and subdued demand in February and March," noted Sand.

 

"The falling demand in February and March is partly due to increased volumes in January in the pre-Lunar New Year rush, but also because shippers are easing off from the frontloading we saw throughout 2024," he added.

 

Sand said once the tariff situation becomes clearer and shippers begin to diversify supply chains across regions, "it is possible we could see disruption in ocean supply chains and upward pressure on rates, but this may be a little further down the line."

 

Average spot rates from the Far East increased 8% into the US East Coast and 15% into the US West Coast on April 1, however they are down 43% and 49% since 1 January respectively.

 

It is a similar scenario for the air cargo market, with analysts not expecting significant increases in rates in the immediate aftermath of the tariffs.

 

Niall van de Wouw, Chief Airfreight Officer, said: "Time and again, air cargo supply chain professionals have proven their resilience and they will show the same calm determination in the face of the tariff threat."

 

"We saw an uptick in air cargo rates from China and Europe to the US at the end of March but nothing to set alarm bells ringing. The more likely scenario is a decrease in air cargo rates if tariffs result in higher prices and lower consumer demand," he added.

 

Air cargo spot rates currently stand at $4.16 per kg from Shanghai to US, down from the peak season high of $5.75 in the week ending 10 November. Spot rates from Western Europe to the US stand at $2.16 per kg, down from the peak season high of $3.51 in the week ending December 15.

 

"We could also see lower demand for US exports if there is growing anti-US sentiment across consumers in regions hit by the tariffs. Consumer sentiment has the potential to be even more powerful than tariffs," remarked van de Wouw.

 

"We should also consider there will be more capacity added to these trades in the coming weeks as airlines start summer schedules, which will also put downward pressure on rates," he added.

 

Van de Wouw believes proposals to introduce fees against Chinese ships and carriers entering US ports poses a more substantial risk to air supply chains, if it is approved following a two-day public hearing last week.

 

"The proposed fees on Chinese vessels and carriers entering US ports could have a more significant impact if congestion in ocean container supply chains causes shippers to move more goods by air," he noted.

 

"With around 98% of the world’s goods transported by ocean it doesn’t take much of a percentage shift to have major implications for air freight, as we saw during Covid-19 and the Red Sea crisis," he added.-TradeArabia News Service 

SITA, a global leader in air transport technology, has announced the successful acquisition of Italian group CCM  in a move aimed at delivering smarter, more efficient and better airports with smoother passenger experiences.

 

Headquartered in Milan, CCM is a world-renowned expert and leader in the design, production, and creation of airport interiors. 

 

This strategic move is aimed at redefining how airports function by seamlessly blending technology and interior design to create future-ready spaces.

 

As airports invest heavily in automation, biometrics, security, self-service and personalized commercial services, terminal layouts too must evolve alongside these innovations, said industry experts.

 

The traditional model involving rows of check-in counters, static security areas, and inefficient passenger flows no longer makes sense, they stated.

 

Instead, airports need seamless integration, where smart technology and intelligent design work together to reduce congestion and make the most out of every square meter, they pointed out.

 

CCM is synonymous with world famous high-quality Italian design in the airport space. It works with leading architects and designers to create efficient, functional, memorable, and stylish traveler experiences.

 

"This isn’t just about expanding airports," remarked David Lavorel, the Chief Executive Officer at SITA. 

 

"It’s about reimagining them. With CCM’s deep design and execution expertise, we’re transforming airports to maximize their existing footprint, optimize passenger flow, and create smarter, more flexible and valuable airport terminal environments that evolve with the changing needs of the industry," he noted.

 

As the leader in passenger processing technology, SITA said it was at the forefront of managing airport space more efficiently. 

 

The industry’s transformation demands a new approach to space management, where traditional check-in counters are replaced with innovative designs that reflect modern travel habits, it added.

 

"Building efficient, tech-enabled environments is crucial for the future of travel. Airports are not just transit points; they mark a moment in a journey, no matter the destination," remarked Lavorel.

 

"By integrating our expertise, we bring to life the airports of the future - architecture that is built on tech solutions and driven by efficiency to improve the overall travel experience for passengers and the operations of airport staff," he noted.

 

The acquisition of CCM adds valuable design and customer advisory elements to SITA’s existing technology, reinforcing its commitment to leading the future of air travel, he added.

 

Sergio Colella, the President, Europe at SITA, said: "The market needs a fundamental shift - where technology and design work together to make airports smarter in using their space for more capacity and with flexibility to support the next generation of travel."

 

"That’s why we’re bringing CCM into the SITA family. By combining our technology and experience in airport operations with their deep understanding of design and space optimization, we are bringing to the market a unique ‘technology by design’ capability and end-to-end integration from design to operations, all in harmony since the conception of the idea," noted Colella.

 

For 35 years under the management of the Marinoni family, CCM has worked on more than 300 airports worldwide, designing and delivering terminal spaces that balance efficiency, flexibility, and passenger experience. 

Now, with SITA’s expertise in passenger processing, baggage handling, and AI-driven airport operations, this acquisition will help airport customers integrate technology and design as a single go-to solution, something that was not available up to now, he added.

 

According to the SITA 2024 Air Transport IT Insights report, 63% of airports are prioritising self-service, biometrics, mobile apps, and IT spending has surged to $8.9 billion as airports focus on automation, AI, and digitalization. 

 

But these investments will only deliver their full impact if airports are physically designed to support them. Technology alone won’t fix congestion. It needs smarter layouts, frictionless movement, and an infrastructure that evolves with it.

 

Monica Oberti has been appointed interim CEO of CCM, bringing decades of extensive expertise in reshaping and repurposing spaces at large scale globally within CCM. Oberti is a member of the founding Marinoni family.

 

"For too long, airports have had to choose between efficiency and passenger experience. Now, they don’t have to," stated Oberti. 

 

"By joining forces with SITA, we can finally bring together the best of both worlds – smart technology, intelligent design, and quality production. Together, we’re not just improving airports, we’re reshaping them for the future," she said.

 

According to her, SITA and CCM are moving fast to integrate their expertise, ensuring that existing customers experience no disruption in service, while opening up new opportunities to optimise their airport environments. 

 

The aviation industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and airports need solutions that don’t just help them catch up but allow them to get ahead, she added.-TradeArabia News Service