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New report reveals hidden extra costs of cargo crime

Cargo theft is costing businesses far more than the value of the stolen freight; loss of a single €5,000 parcel can potentially generate €35,000 in additional costs, as organised gangs and cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities in Europe's supply chains. LivingPackets' Hidden Cost of High-Value Delivery report, published today, estimates that every euro of direct loss carries four to seven euros in additional costs, including replacement, reshipping, dispute handling, and customer dissatisfaction. Across 10,000 shipments of goods worth €5,000 each, a 0.1% incident rate would mean 10 losses, representing €50,000 in stolen goods, and up to €350,000 in hidden costs, the analysis, drawing on Logistics Bureau research, found. Meanwhile, TAPA EMEA recorded more than €1bn in freight theft losses across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in the 18 months to 30 June. Only 7.8% of the 58,661 reported incidents included a recorded loss value, suggesting the documented total significantly understates the problem. "The problem is not marginal," said LivingPackets. In an interview with SNAP, TAPA's UK lead for EMEA Harry Hughes said: "We've seen organised crime groups travelling two to three hundred miles to target specific vehicles. They know the routes. They know the transport companies that are moving them, the lanes they go on." Cargo theft methods include curtain slashing, entire loaded trailers taken from depots, and cyber-enabled fraud involving phishing emails, falsified collection documents, and manipulated delivery instructions. Mr Hughes also warned: "Criminals are sometimes buying legimate carriers, trading as a legitimate carrier for two to three weeks and then disappearing with loads." LivingPackets argued that while conventional tracking could record where a parcel was scanned, it cannot necessarily establish what happened between scans, or identify where custody was compromised. However, its technology embeds sensing, authentication, and event recording into reusable shipping boxes. LivingPackets founder and executive chairman Alexander Cotte said: "If the shipment itself can tell us what happened, brands, carriers and insurers start from the same facts." The company said French telecoms operator SFR had seen loss and damage claims fall by 93% on the flows concerned, while a luxury jeweller recorded no losses on LivingPackets-managed shipments. Automotive parts shipper Cotrolia reportedly reduced its breakage rate from 30% to 1%. The report advised the need for stronger carrier verification, secure parking, tighter control of collection instructions, and better shipment visibility as criminals exploit both physical and digital weaknesses across freight networks. SNAP's head of commercial for the UK and Ireland, Nick Long, urged that secure truck parking should be integral to fleet security and journey planning, rather than treated as an optional extra.

Terminal operators and liners eye concession opportunity at Colombo Port

Global terminal operators, backed by container shipping groups, are keenly eyeing fresh concessions at Sri Lanka's Colombo port, according to industry sources. One opportunity up for grabs soon is a rebid for South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT), where 30-year concession rights end in 2029. SAGT's ownership has four partners: 42% held by John Keells Holdings; 33% by Maersk/APMT; 15% by Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA); and 10% by Evergreen. According to sources in Colombo, Sri Lankan policymakers are not considering a further extension of the concession term but will seek new proposals. "There are clear signals that SLPA will go in for a fresh tendering attempt," one source told The Loadstar. SAGT, which has three berths with a total quay of 940 metres, and able to handle 2m teu annually, began operations in 1999. The terminal handled 1.8m teu in fiscal year 2025-26, which was down 11% year on year, as the Middle East crisis resulted in a wave of service suspensions, according to available data. Sources said most major liners were upbeat about staking a claim for SAGT, with indications that Maersk will partner with another European liner to jointly pursue the concession rights. The Danish group had previously explored collaborating with an Asian carrier, but the prospect of EU regulatory clearance risks was understood to have derailed that move, sources added. "A joint bid between two European liner behemoths could be a game-changer for Colombo's terminal operations," one Sri Lankan port veteran told The Loadstar. Sources believe Colombo's booming transhipment traffic offers investors a stronger growth proposition, so bidding for any upcoming projects at the port is expected to be heated. Despite the nagging capacity strain and growing competition from Indian ports, Colombo saw combined throughput in H1 26 spike 12% year on year, to 4.4m teu. Meanwhile, until new concessions emerge or become operational, Adani Group's $750m investment in Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) is seen to be Colombo's primary growth engine. CWIT has officially launched phase 2 operations, doubling its capacity to 3.2m teu, after hitting 2m teu within 18 months of phase 1 operations, claimed to be the fastest growth seen by any operator at the port. "With additional capacity, CWIT would be able to simultaneously berth three ultra-large container vessels, strengthening Colombo's position as a critical transhipment hub on the east-west trade route," said Adani Ports (APSEZ). "Phase 2 is a landmark for APSEZ's international portfolio and sharpens our position across the Indian Ocean's key trade corridors. With expanded capacity, full automation and deepwater infrastructure, CWIT is built to be Colombo's premier transshipment gateway and contribute to export/import cargo in Sri Lanka." In recent years, Adani has markedly expanded its terminal networks beyond India, aiming to become the world's largest port operator handling 1bn tonnes of cargo across markets by 2030 - doubling the 500m tonnes in fiscal 2025-26.

DSV's Q3 air volumes hit by weak Europe and reduced Asia-Europe e-commerce

DSV's airfreight business faced third quarter challenges including weak activity in Europe and reduced Asia Pacific-Europe e-commerce demand. Airfreight volumes fell by 3% to 560,890 tonnes in the third quarter compared to the third quarter of 2025. Overall, volumes grew 15% year on year in the first nine months of 2026. As well as reduced e-commerce shipment volumes on the Asia Pacific-Europe trade lane and Europe-APAC volumes that were below expected levels, the Denmark-headquartered freight forwarder said its air volumes were also negatively impacted by yield management initiatives and shippers shifting cargo from air to sea transport. Meanwhile, DSV pointed out that the Middle East conflict continued to disrupt global airfreight networks, leading to higher costs and volatility, flight rerouting and reduced effective capacity. However, technology, including cloud, demand in Asia Pacific and North America helped lift volumes. "Despite a positive volume trend during the quarter, the decline was larger than expected," said DSV. "Volumes were impacted by yield-management initiatives, conversion from air freight to sea freight, lower-than expected activity in Europe and reduced e-commerce volumes on the APAC-Europe trade lane. "This was partially offset by growth within Technology business in APAC and North America. Middle East-related trade lanes remained weak due to the ongoing conflict in the region." Despite the drop in volumes, airfreight revenue for the quarter was up 16.6% to Dkr24.6bn and air gross profit improved 4.3% to Dkr5bn. DSV commented that average gross profit yields increased "8% YoY in constant currencies". Air and Sea Revenue for the air and sea division was Dkr45.5bn, up by 15.9% in constant currencies terms. This was "mainly driven by increased freight rates and surcharge recovery, especially in air freight", said DSV. Meanwhile, gross profit was Dkr9.2bn. This was an increase of 0.2% year on year, dragged down by the performance of the sea business, where gross profit was down 4.2% "Gross profit was affected by negative volume growth in certain European markets, as well as the transfers of certain services to Global Products," said DSV. "Adjusted for these transfers, gross profit increased 2.8% YoY." The forwarder further stated: "In constant currencies, the gross profit was on level with last year. Higher average gross profit yields for air freight and integration synergies were offset by lower freight volumes across both air and sea freight." Across the whole business DSV reported revenue of Dkr80.6bn, up 12% year on year. DSV reported gross profit of Dkr20.3bn, an increase of 2.3% compared to the same period last year. Jens Lund, DSV Group chief executive, said: "We delivered earnings growth in a volatile market, driven by strong results in Air & Sea and Contract Logistics. "Road was affected by integration-related operational issues, but service levels recovered by quarter-end, allowing us to shift our focus to productivity, commercial initiatives and organic growth. "We remain focused on completing the Schenker integration, realising synergies and advancing our 2030 ambitions through investments in AI, technology and network optimisation." Schenker integration The integration of Schenker has largely continued as planned, said DSV. At the end of the third quarter, almost all of the countries with operations "have either completed integration or are in the process of integrating". However, there are a small number of countries where integration is expected to start during the fourth quarter. The Road division in particular has seen operational and commercial challenges in certain European markets following the integration. "Annual synergies are still expected to be at the level of DKK 9 billion, partly offset by inflationary pressure and costs related to increased activity in Contract Logistics," said DSV. "The remaining synergies related to Road and certain Group functions are expected to be delayed into 2027 due to the operational issues in Road."