SBWire

Singapore's role as a global transhipment hub is both a blessing and a curse. In times such as these, when key markets in Europe and the US are either recessionary or growing sluggishly, it can be hit by depleted freight volumes. In 2014, we forecast growth in both port and airport total tonnage volumes, though it will be sluggish. Both facilities are investing considerably, and we are confident of growth over the medium and long term.

Looking to 2015 and beyond, we maintain our view that the market will slow from its current pace, but positive growth, can be sustained over our forecast period to 2018, particularly if a soft landing for the housing market - a key indicator of light truck demand - can be successfully engineered. Our expectation for no rate hikes until the end of 2015 at the earliest also bodes well for vehicle sales, as auto loans have been driving growth in recent years thanks to low rates and longer terms.

Vehicle sales in Italy declined 7.6% in 2013 to 1.4mn units on the back of a weak macro environment. This came from a 7.0% drop in passenger car sales and 13.3% fall in the commercial vehicle (CV) segment. In 2014, we expect to see a resurgence across the market due to low base effects and pent-up demand and accordingly forecast 3.3% growth in vehicle sales over the year.

Iranian auto production has got off to a strong start in FY14/15. According to a report by IRNA, the country registered a 73.4% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in auto output to 404,010 vehicles between March 21 and August 22, compared with 232,993 vehicles in the same period a year earlier. A total of 345,217 sedans were manufactured in the reported period, representing a y-o-y increase of 74.3% from 198,059 units. Production of SAIPA's Nasim and Saiba Pride models reached 75,863 units between March 21 and August 22, while production of Peugeot's 405 and 206 reached 39,475 and 33,962 units, respectively. A total of 77 buses, 27 minibuses, 4,060 trucks and 54,629 vans were produced by Iranian automakers in the reported period.

Easy Rig Lease now offers commercial equipment financing and bad credit business loans for truckers in Long Island, NY. The new services offered by the financing company make it simpler and easier for truckers and commercial vehicle owners to get the loans they need to keep their business up and running.

Media reports suggest that Kuwaiti new car sales grew by 7% year-on-year over H114. Consequently, BMI is happy to maintain its forecast of 8% growth for the full year this quarter. We continue to believe that the local market offers opportunities in both the high-end and the volume segments.

US Airways purchased American Airlines in 2013 to complete what seems to be the final step in a wave of airline mergers between 2001 and 2011. Consolidation has reduced the number of active players in the industry and it is now dominated by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Continental Holdings, which control a combined 74% of scheduled airline value sales.

Our outlook for the port of Singapore for 201 4 is that it will not overtake the port of Shanghai for the crown of the world's largest container port. We now see such a scenario as unlikely to fall out, and we believe that Shanghai will increase its lead over Singapore, not only this year but over our medium-term forecast period to 201 8 .

Sending a package can be a real inconvenience, and with so many providers to choose from it can be hard for individuals to choose the right company. Not only this, but users are also responsible for packaging their items up safely, and ensuring their delivery. With many home businesses starting out this way, shipping to clients over sites like eBay and Etsy, getting this right is more important than ever. ShipBob in Chicago is a service that will take care of every element of sending a package, and has now made their service available through an Android app for ultimate convenience.

Increased activity in Poland's regional airports was a significant factor influencing air transportation in Poland in 2013. The largest airports in terms of numbers in Poland of passengers are Warsaw Chopin, Gdansk Lech Walesa and Krakow Balice. At the same time, only these three airports remain profitable in Poland and all other airports in the country are only viable due to money received from the local and regional governments. All airports operating in Poland suffer from insufficient passenger numbers, to the extent that the country's third largest airport, Lech Walesa Airport in Gdansk, operates at only 60% of capacity.

Political Risk Coming Back Down After Elections

Equip Your Gym, a leading supplier of pre-owned and remanufactured commercial gym equipment, announced that the company has expanded its international shipping team and capacity. The new investments will allow Equip Your Gym to even better serve customers in Mexico, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and everywhere else that the company's offerings have met with increasing demand. With over twenty-five years of institutional experience with gym equipment, Equip Your Gym is one of the most highly capable and reliable companies of its kind in the world today.

The tenth issue of Picking Perfection, a weekly e-newsletter publication to be released October 13, 2014, will report that improved order accuracy is best practice for business-to-consumer companies to minimize shipping costs. Scalable e-commerce fulfillment solutions are designed to optimize labor and automation. Picking solutions must combine best-of-breed innovative equipment with real-time distribution center (DC) intelligence.

Moving from one locality to another or from one state to another can be a hassle. No one likes to move, if not for any reason, then for the headache it entails. Living in one place for many years can result in one accumulating many items. Anyone would be overwhelmed by the very thought of packing up years’ worth of clothes, furniture and other household articles, but there are ways to make moving and storing an easy process. One of the most helpful ways to make sure that moving is a stress free event is to engage the services of a moving and storage company.

Out of State Movers are aware of the fact that moving to a brand new state reminiscent of different culture and lifestyle can be an intimidating and therefore, they prioritize a client’s needs to move safely and securely with a budget that will be easy on the wallet. Right from the stage of offering highly effective advice in the consultancy phase to the final stage where the actual move takes place, everything is handled with proficient care and concern, thus earning them the title of being one of the best when it comes to offering client satisfaction.

Outbound tourism flows declined in the Netherlands during 2013 and this placed some pressure on the number of passengers in all transportation categories. Despite the decline recorded in the number of outbound departures in 2013, transportation registered a 1% increase in current value sales during 2013.

Vehicle sales in Slovakia decreased 3.8% in 2013, on the back of weakness in the passenger car and commercial vehicle (CV) segments. In 2014, we forecast an upswing in total sales of 9.4% as the economy recovers somewhat.

According to the Malaysian Auto Association (MAA), auto production grew 5.6% in 2013, to 601,407 units. While passenger car production registered healthy growth of 6.7%, to 543,892 units, output in the commercial vehicle (CV) segment contracted 4.1%, to 57,515 units. For 2014, we expect growth in both CV and passenger car production, and forecast overall auto production growth to come in at 4.9%, to 630,590 units.

Romania's main port of Constantza is forecast to see steady growth both in terms of both total tonnage and container throughput in 2014 in line with the country's continued economic recovery and eurozone's projected return to growth.

A deceleration in construction industry growth and a relatively slow expansion of the transportation and communications sector underpin our forecast for real GDP growth in Panama to moderate to 6.5% this year, from 8.3% in 2013. Nevertheless, we anticipate that a pick-up in construction next year, in advance of the completion of the Panama Canal expansion, will bolster headline growth in 2015 and proving a boon to the country's freight industry.

Following a year of mixed growth dynamics in different freight transport modes, BMI believes that 2014 will signal increasing volumes across the whole sector in line with improving economic outlook.

South Korea's relatively strong Q1 2014 real GDP growth print has prompted us to upgrade our 2014 growth forecast to 3.5% from 3.0% previously. Korean exporters will continue to ride on the economic recovery in the developed markets for now while a recovery in real estate sector may support construction investment. That said, downside pressure is still likely to stem from China's slowing economy, elevated household debt levels, as well as risks of a continued contraction in business investment.

TORONTO Limousines, a premier limousine and chauffer service is pleased to announce the availability of Luxury Limousine Rentals.

Easybook, the largest bus ticketing portal in Singapore and Malaysia provides bus services from Kuala Lumpur to Penang. Malaysia is indeed a beautiful destination with multi-ethnic and multi-cultural aspects and therefore, tourists in large scale come here from different corners of the world.

With the wider presence of low cost carriers, air ticket prices became much more affordable for Taiwanese consumers, particularly younger travellers looking at short haul destinations. The economic slowdown weakened consumer confidence, making budget airlines more enticing to price dependent consumers. The dynamic growth of low cost carriers pressured schedule and other non-budget airlines to offer attractive promotional rates in order to boost sales. At the same time, more Taiwanese consumers are travelling abroad as they look for a break from hectic lifestyles. More affordable air ticket prices and lifestyle changes saw outbound travel boost air transportation sales in 2013.