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Your Air Cargo Munich and Transport Logistics 2025 Survival Kit

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8 mois ago

27 mai 2025

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Your Air Cargo Munich and Transport Logistics 2025 Survival Kit

Four hectic days, one very large venue—here’s how to make every meeting count.

May 27, 2025

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Four hectic days, one very large venue—here’s how to make every meeting count.

We’ve spoken to 7 logistics pros who have collectively attended over 30 Transport Logistics to get their tips on how to nail the conference.

We used their personal tips for your essential survival guide—powered by seasoned Freightos veterans who’ve been there, done that, and packed extra shoes.

Read to dive in?

Getting to Transport Logistics

Getting to this behemoth of an event is where it all starts. Parking is available but let’s be honest, nothing is harder at the end of a long day than dragging yourself to the parking lot and driving for another hour. Public-transportation up…it’s free!

Ride the U2—ticket included – Your badge doubles as an MVV pass (zones M-6). Board at München Hauptbahnhof and reach Messestadt West/Ost in ~20 min, no transfers, no extra euros. You’ve put out money for your show ticket, at least coast without paying public transportation costs.

Compare ride-hailing apps – Traffic crawls at open and close. Alongside Uber, check FREE NOW and Bolt—both allow pre-scheduling and often undercut fares when demand spikes.

Dress the Part – Munich weather this time of the year can be as unpredictable as peak season in COVID. As of May 27th, here’s what the weather looks like. Bring your umbrella AND your polo shirt.

Plan & Navigate Transport Logistics

Transport Logistics only pops around in Germany every other year but it more than compensates with the number of folks who attend – over 120,000 visitors a day without breaking stride.

Plan by location and importance – Messe München spans twelve halls plus an outdoor rail yard, which means that it’s key to be on top of where you actually want to go:

B1–B2 Air-Cargo Europe, IT & telematics

A3–A5 / B3–B5 Forwarders, carriers, digital platforms

A1–A2 / A6 Logistics services

C1–C2 Intralogistics, warehouse tech

C3–C4 Packaging, infrastructure, equipment

C5–C6 Research, universities, emerging tech

F7/F8 Outdoor heavy equipment & live-rail demos

Source: Transport Logistics 2025

Build buffer time between meetings. The sheer size of the conference means that if you schedule your calendar in back to backs, you’re going to be apologizing for being late too – not a good look for an industry based on on-time delivery.

“I once crossed three halls for a 20-minute chat—that was my step goal in one shot.”

Sebastian Molejón, Commercial Director, WebCargo by Freightox

Leave space for swag – Travel pillows, enamel mugs, airplane-pattern socks, luggage tags—and whatever you win on our prize wheel (more on that below) —fill a bag fast. Cloakrooms sit below the West and East entrances for coats and samples. The rooms typically open one hour before the exhibition begins and ends one hour after the exhibition closes.

Essentials & Comfort for Transport Logistics

Long days feel shorter when you prep the basics.

Choose practical footwear. All this walking means that you need to come ready. Even if you’re just standing in a booth, you’re going to want to make sure you have the right shoes on.

“Elegant shoes are your worst enemy—go sporty, or go sore.”

Anton Bar, SVP Data, Freightos

Fuel and hydrate. While there’s a ton of food – and even more beer (this is Germany, after all), you’re going to want to make sure you have the right kind of energy. Pack some protein bars for the road.

Big breakfast, litres of water, pockets full of protein bars.

— Sebastian Molejón

Mind the Wi-Fi ceiling – Free wifi (network name – messeWifi) is fine for mail but schedule hefty uploads for hotel fibre since the hall caps uploads to about 200MB.

Food & Evening After the Conference

Keep energy—and networking—alive after the halls close.

Book dinner in advance. Munich works at a different schedule than, say, Barcelona, and restaurants are jam-packed due to the event. Book in advance.

Most Munich kitchens close around 21:00—reserve early if you’re planning a client meal.

— Antonia Ambrozy, Commercial Director, WebCargo by Freightos

De-brief Bavarian-style –

As Ian Arroyo, our Chief Strategy Officer says, “Partnerships often begin over a pretzel.” Augustiner-Keller and booth receptions fill up fast; alternate water with Weissbier.

Learning & Sessions at Transport Logistics

Sharpen your edge in an hour or less.

Scan the programme early – Four forum stages (A1, A2, A3, B1) plus an Exhibitor Stage host topics like “Global Supply Chains 2030,” “Digital Platforms for Road Freight” and “Ports of the Future.” You can check out the full schedule here.

Prioritize AI and sustainability panels –The industry doesn’t reinvent itself every year but some topics this year are likely going to be more relevant than others. Our expert advice? Lean in on Co2 and AI panels.

Campus Plaza networking – If you’re in the mood to pick up some quick info, head over to the Campus Plaza in Hall A3 for 15-min lightning talks on (more on that in the Campus Plaza schedule):

Mon: Cyber-Security

Tue: Sustainability

Wed: Artificial Intelligence

Thu: Employers in the Spotlight

Freightos Pit Stops

It’s not a real conference if you don’t pop by to say hi to our crew! See what you can win, grab soem coffee or margaritas and tech-up by saying hi:

We’re going all in this year with two dedicated booths:

For Airlines and Forwarders — WebCargo Booth

Details here

Don’t forget to try your luck at the Wheel of Fortune – win travel pillows, mugs, or even a $100 Amazon card. At the very least, bring a smile for your free professional LinkedIn headshot – because profiles with pro photos get 21x more views and engagement. Of course, you can also find drinks, swag, and a great team ready to chat

Whether you’re an airline or a forwarder, the WebCargo team is your go-to crew for real-time booking, rate management, and scaling digital air cargo operations—and they’re always up for a great conversation.

For Shippers — Freightos + Grynn Joint Booth

Details here

Enjoy sweet popcorn, cold brew coffee in mugs you can take home and margaritas…and then learn how Freightos Enterprise helps shippers optimize procurement and build data-driven strategies

Whether you’re a shipper or a forwarder, our teams are here to listen, learn, and collaborate—because real transformation starts with real conversations.

Quick checklist

Comfortable shoes

Water bottle

Business cards

Hall-grouped agenda

Time buffers

Snacks

Extra bag space

Campus Plaza visit

AI/CO₂ session

Freightos booths

Dinner reservation

Evening networking

See you in Munich—let’s make every conversation count.

Eytan Buchman

CMO, Freightos Group

Eytan Buchman loves freight so much he shouts out container sizes while he walks around. He’s obsessed with marketing, data storytelling (it’s a thing!) and bakes really good cookies. He’s the Chief Marketing Officer at the Freightos Group, which runs Freightos, the world’s leading online freight marketplace, and WebCargo, the digital network connecting logistics providers with airlines and ocean liners. When he’s not thinking about pallets, he hosts the Marketers in Capes podcast, and consults to a number of startups and nonprofits. He still likes Minidisc players and has never skied. Ever.

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The post Your Air Cargo Munich and Transport Logistics 2025 Survival Kit appeared first on Freightos.

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India–U.S. Trade Announcement Creates Strategic Options, Not Executable Change

Published

10 heures ago

3 février 2026

India–u.s. Trade Announcement Creates Strategic Options, Not Executable Change

The announcement by Donald Trump and Narendra Modi of an India–U.S. “trade deal” has drawn immediate attention from global markets. From a supply chain and logistics perspective, however, the more important observation is not the scale of the claims, but the lack of formal detail required for execution.

At this stage, what exists is a political statement rather than a completed trade agreement. For companies managing sourcing, manufacturing, transportation, and compliance across India–U.S. trade lanes, uncertainty remains the defining condition.

What Has Been Announced So Far

Based on public statements from the U.S. administration and reporting by CNBC and Al Jazeera, several points have been asserted:

U.S. tariffs on Indian goods would be reduced from an effective 50 percent to 18 percent

India would reduce tariffs and non tariff barriers on U.S. goods, potentially to zero

India would stop purchasing Russian oil and increase energy purchases from the United States

India would significantly increase purchases of U.S. goods across energy, agriculture, technology, and industrial sectors

Statements from the Indian government have been more limited. New Delhi confirmed that U.S. tariffs on Indian exports would be reduced to 18 percent, but it did not publicly confirm commitments related to Russian oil, agricultural market access, or large scale procurement from U.S. suppliers.

This divergence matters. In supply chain planning, commitments only become relevant when they are documented, scoped, and enforceable.

Why This Is Not Yet a Trade Agreement

From an operational standpoint, the announcement lacks several elements required to support planning and execution:

No published tariff schedules by HS code

No clarification on rules of origin

No definition of non tariff barrier reductions

No implementation timelines

No enforcement or dispute resolution mechanisms

Without these components, companies cannot reliably model landed cost, supplier risk, or network design changes.

By comparison, India’s recently announced trade agreement with the European Union includes detailed provisions covering market access, regulatory alignment, and investment protections. Those provisions are what allow supply chain leaders to translate trade policy into operational decisions. The U.S. announcement does not yet meet that threshold.

Implications for Supply Chains

Tariff Reduction Could Be Material if Formalized

An 18 percent tariff rate would improve India’s competitive position relative to regional peers such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. If implemented and sustained, this could support incremental sourcing from India in sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, and light manufacturing.

For now, however, this remains a scenario rather than a planning assumption.

Energy Commitments Are the Largest Unknown

The claim that India would halt purchases of Russian oil has significant implications across energy, chemical, and manufacturing supply chains. Russian crude has been a key input for Indian refineries and downstream industrial production.

A shift away from that supply would affect energy input costs, tanker routing, port utilization, and U.S.–India crude and LNG trade volumes. None of these impacts can be assessed with confidence without confirmation from Indian regulators and implementing agencies.

Agriculture Remains Politically and Operationally Sensitive

U.S. officials have suggested expanded access for American agricultural exports. Historically, agriculture has been one of the most protected and politically sensitive sectors in India.

Any meaningful liberalization would raise questions around cold chain capacity, port infrastructure, domestic political resistance, and regulatory compliance. These factors introduce execution risk that supply chain leaders should consider carefully.

Compliance and Digital Trade Issues Are Unresolved

Several areas remain undefined:

Whether India will adjust pharmaceutical patent protections

Whether U.S. technology firms will receive exemptions from digital services taxes

Whether labor and environmental standards will be linked to market access

Each of these issues influences sourcing strategies, contract terms, and long term cost structures.

Practical Guidance for Supply Chain Leaders

Until formal documentation is released, a measured approach is warranted:

Avoid making structural network changes based on political announcements

Model tariff exposure using multiple scenarios rather than a single assumed outcome

Monitor customs and regulatory guidance rather than headline statements

Assess exposure to potential energy cost changes in Indian operations

Track implementation of the India–EU agreement as a near term reference point

Bottom Line

This announcement suggests a potential shift in the direction of India–U.S. trade relations, but it does not yet provide the clarity required for operational decision making.

For now, it creates strategic optionality rather than executable change.

Until tariff schedules, regulatory commitments, and enforcement mechanisms are formally published, supply chain and logistics leaders should treat this development as informational rather than actionable. In trade, execution begins only when the documentation exists.

The post India–U.S. Trade Announcement Creates Strategic Options, Not Executable Change appeared first on Logistics Viewpoints.

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Winter weather challenges, trade deals and more tariff threats – February 3, 2026 Update

Published

15 heures ago

3 février 2026

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Winter weather challenges, trade deals and more tariff threats – February 3, 2026 Update

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Published: February 3, 2026

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Weekly highlights

Ocean rates – Freightos Baltic Index

Asia-US West Coast prices (FBX01 Weekly) decreased 10% to $2,418/FEU.

Asia-US East Coast prices (FBX03 Weekly) decreased 2% to $3,859/FEU.

Asia-N. Europe prices (FBX11 Weekly) decreased 5% to $2,779/FEU.

Asia-Mediterranean prices(FBX13 Weekly) decreased 5% to $4,179/FEU.

Air rates – Freightos Air Index

China – N. America weekly prices increased 8% to $6.74/kg.

China – N. Europe weekly prices decreased 4% to $3.44/kg.

N. Europe – N. America weekly prices increased 10% to $2.53/kg.

Analysis

Winter weather is complicating logistics on both sides of the Atlantic. Affected areas in the US, especially the southeast and southern midwest are still recovering from last week’s major storm and cold.

Storms in the North Atlantic slowed vessel traffic and disrupted or shutdown operations at several container ports across Western Europe and into the Mediterranean late last week. Transits resumed and West Med ports restarted operations earlier this week, but the disruptions have already caused significant delays, and weather is expected to worsen again mid-week.

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The resulting delays and disruptions could increase congestion levels at N. Europe ports, but ocean rates from Asia to both N. Europe and the Mediterranean nonetheless dipped 5% last week as the pre-Lunar New Year rush comes to an end. Daily rates this week are sliding further with prices to N. Europe now down to about $2,600/FEU and $3,800/FEU to the Mediterranean – from respective highs of $3,000/FEU and $4,900/FEU in January.

Transpacific rates likewise slipped last week as LNY nears, with West Coast prices easing 10% to about $2,400/FEU and East Coast rates down 5% to $3,850/FEU. West Coast daily prices have continued to slide so far this week, with rates dropping to almost $1,900/FEU as of Monday, a level last seen in mid-December.

Prices across these lanes are significantly lower than this time last year due partly to fleet growth. ONE identified overcapacity as one driver of Q3 losses last year, with lower volumes due to trade war frontloading the other culprit.

And trade war uncertainty has persisted into 2026.

India – US container volumes have slumped since August when the US introduced 50% tariffs on many Indian exports. Just this week though, the US and India announced a breakthrough in negotiations that will lower tariffs to 18% in exchange for a reduction in India’s Russian oil purchases among other commitments. President Trump has yet to sign an executive order lowering tariffs, and the sides have not released details of the agreement, but once implemented, container demand is expected to rebound on this lane.

Recent steps in the other direction include Trump issuing an executive order that enables the US to impose tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba, and threatening tariffs and other punitive steps targeting Canada’s aviation manufacturing.

The recent volatility of and increasing barriers to trade with the US since Trump took office last year are major drivers of the warmer relations and increased and diversified trade developing between other major economies. The EU signed a major free trade agreement with India last week just after finalizing a deal with a group of South American countries, and other countries like the UK are exploring improved ties with China as well.

In a final recent geopolitical development, Panama’s Supreme Court nullified Hutchinson Port rights to operate its terminals at either end of the Panama Canal. The Hong Kong company was in stalled negotiations to sell those ports following Trump’s objection to a China-related presence in the canal. Maersk’s APMTP was appointed to take over operations in the interim.

In air cargo, pre-LNY demand may be one factor in China-US rates continuing to rebound to $6.74/kg last week from about $5.50/kg in early January. Post the new year slump, South East Asia – US prices are climbing as well, up to almost $5.00/kg last week from $4.00/kg just a few weeks ago.

China – Europe rates dipped 4% to $3.44/kg last week, with SEA – Europe prices up 7% to more than $3.20/kg, and transatlantic rates up 10% to more than $2.50/kg, a level 25% higher than early this year.

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Judah Levine

Head of Research, Freightos Group

Judah is an experienced market research manager, using data-driven analytics to deliver market-based insights. Judah produces the Freightos Group’s FBX Weekly Freight Update and other research on what’s happening in the industry from shipper behaviors to the latest in logistics technology and digitization.

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The post Winter weather challenges, trade deals and more tariff threats – February 3, 2026 Update appeared first on Freightos.

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Microsoft and the Operationalization of AI: Why Platform Strategy Is Colliding with Execution Reality

Published

1 jour ago

2 février 2026

Microsoft And The Operationalization Of Ai: Why Platform Strategy Is Colliding With Execution Reality

Microsoft has positioned itself as one of the central platforms for enterprise AI. Through Azure, Copilot, Fabric, and a rapidly expanding ecosystem of AI services, the company is not merely offering tools, it is proposing an operating model for how intelligence should be embedded across enterprise workflows.

For supply chain and logistics leaders, the significance of Microsoft’s strategy is less about individual features and more about how platform decisions increasingly shape where AI lives, how it is governed, and which decisions it ultimately influences.

From Cloud Infrastructure to Operating Layer

Historically, Microsoft’s role in supply chain technology centered on infrastructure and productivity software. Azure provided scalable compute and storage, while Office and collaboration tools supported planning and coordination. That boundary has shifted.

Microsoft is now positioning AI as a horizontal operating layer that spans data management, analytics, decision support, and execution. Azure AI services, Microsoft Fabric, and Copilot are designed to work together, reducing friction between data ingestion, model development, and business consumption.

The implication for operations leaders is subtle but important: AI is no longer something added to systems; it is increasingly embedded into the platforms those systems rely on.

Copilot and the Question of Decision Proximity

Copilot has become a focal point of Microsoft’s AI narrative. Positioned as an assistive layer across applications, Copilot aims to surface insights, generate recommendations, and automate routine tasks.

For supply chain use cases, the key question is not whether Copilot can generate answers, but where those answers appear in the decision chain. Insights delivered inside productivity tools can improve awareness and coordination, but operational value depends on whether recommendations are connected to execution systems.

This highlights a broader pattern: AI that remains advisory improves efficiency; AI that is embedded into workflows influences outcomes. Microsoft’s challenge is bridging that gap consistently across heterogeneous enterprise environments.

Microsoft Fabric and the Data Foundation Problem

Microsoft Fabric represents an attempt to simplify and unify the enterprise data landscape. By combining data engineering, analytics, and governance into a single platform, Microsoft is addressing one of the most persistent barriers to AI adoption: fragmented and inconsistent data.

For supply chain organizations, Fabric’s value lies in its potential to standardize event data across planning, execution, and visibility systems. However, unification does not eliminate the need for data discipline. Event quality, latency, and ownership remain operational issues, not platform features.

Fabric reduces friction, but it does not resolve governance by itself.

Integration with Existing Enterprise Systems

Microsoft’s AI strategy assumes coexistence with existing ERP, WMS, TMS, and planning platforms. Integration, rather than replacement, is the dominant pattern.

This creates both opportunity and risk. On one hand, Microsoft can act as a connective tissue across systems that were never designed to work together. On the other, loosely coupled integration increases dependence on interface stability and data consistency.

In execution-heavy environments, even small integration failures can cascade quickly. As AI becomes more embedded, integration reliability becomes a strategic concern.

Where AI Is Delivering Value, and Where It Isn’t

AI deployments tend to deliver value fastest in areas such as demand sensing, scenario analysis, reporting automation, and exception identification. These use cases align well with Microsoft’s strengths in analytics, collaboration, and scalable infrastructure.

Where value is harder to realize is in autonomous execution. Closed-loop decision-making that directly triggers operational action requires tighter coupling with execution systems and clearer decision ownership.

This reinforces a recurring theme: platform AI accelerates insight, but execution still depends on operating model design.

Constraints That Still Apply

Despite the breadth of Microsoft’s AI portfolio, familiar constraints remain. Data quality, security, compliance, and organizational readiness continue to limit outcomes. AI platforms do not eliminate the need for process clarity or decision accountability.

In some cases, the ease of deploying AI services can outpace an organization’s ability to absorb them operationally. This creates a risk of insight saturation without action.

Why Microsoft Matters to Supply Chain Leaders

Microsoft’s relevance lies in its ability to shape the default environment in which enterprise AI operates. Platform decisions made today influence data architectures, governance models, and user expectations for years.

For supply chain leaders, the key takeaway is not to adopt Microsoft’s AI stack wholesale, but to understand how platform-level AI affects where intelligence sits, how it flows, and who ultimately acts on it.

The next phase of AI adoption will not be defined solely by model performance. It will be defined by how effectively platforms like Microsoft’s translate intelligence into operational decisions under real-world constraints.

The post Microsoft and the Operationalization of AI: Why Platform Strategy Is Colliding with Execution Reality appeared first on Logistics Viewpoints.