In August 2017, on behest of the traders dealing in urad and moong dal, the Union Government had placed import restrictions of up to 3 lakh MT on the whole/raw variety. The restriction on import for the said pulses had been placed to stabilise market prices which had fallen below the MSP set by the Government.&nbsp;On May 4th, 2018, the Government has further extended the cover of import restriction to include the split variety and other forms of urad and moong dal.Based on the latest notification issued by the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT),&nbsp; split, processed and other varieties of urad and moong dal are also included in the import restriction list. Now, till further notice, the import of all varieties of the two pulses is restricted to 3 lakh MT/annum.&nbsp;However, these restrictions do not apply to imports by the Government in order to honour any bilateral/regional trade agreements or MoUs.&nbsp;The DGFT notification is appended below for your reference and guidance.&nbsp;<img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/e08f10294fb5dada23638fbace38a005/Noti%2006%20%28e%29.jpg" alt="import restriction on urad and moong dal" class="center/left/right" style="width: 981px; height: 1387px;"> <img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/58291edbbcc8c6abe573df02a7feebea/Noti%2006%20%28e%29%20%281%29.jpg" alt="Noti%2006%20%28e%29%20%281%29.jpg" class="center/left/right" width=""> Source: dgft.gov.in

Restriction on Urad and Moong Dal imports

<h3 style="text-align: center; "><img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/79ee823339b09a0ec587378875689648/cogoport%20independence%20day%20mailer%20%281%29.jpg" alt="cogoport%20independence%20day%20mailer%20%281%29.jpg" class="center/left/right" width=""></h3>The Indian shipping industry is evolving and adopting new technology to keep pace with the global industry.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cogoport.com/signup" style="letter-spacing: -0.02em; background-color: rgb(254, 254, 254);">Sign up</a> with Cogoport to
become a part of this evolution and change the way you ship.&nbsp;<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;MS Mincho&quot;;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
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EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;MS Mincho&quot;;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
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EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">

Indian Shipping Industry - 70 Year Evolution

The French container transportation and shipping company, CMA CGM, has announced a peak season surcharge from India to Onne, Nigeria. Below is the transcript -Dear Valued Customer,In a continued effort to provide our customers with reliable and efficient service, CMA CGM Group wishes to inform its customers of the Peak Season Surcharge update as follows:Scope of application:<ul><li>From India</li><li>To Onne, Nigeria</li><li>Applicable for all cargoes - dry, reefer, out of gauge and break bulk • As from 7th March 2019 (date of loading)</li></ul>Thank you for your ongoing support. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at our customer service.PEAK SEASON SURCHARGE<img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/6d2a633a21059113adfab4936fbbec77/Screenshot%202019-02-25%20at%205.30.50%20PM.png" alt="Screenshot%202019-02-25%20at%205.30.50%20PM.png">

CMA CGM Peak Season Surcharge: India to Nigeria

One necessary step to grow a business is to expand from
the home market, especially in a world where globalisation has taken over, to international markets to such an extent that one finds Brazilian coffee in the cup of someone
who is driving a German car somewhere in the United States. These global links
are supported by the phenomenon of international trade (export
and import).And, to excel in international trade, it is necessary to
have an in-depth understanding of international business and the shipping process.
While the business scenario and shipping regulations would differ from country
to country, there are some common errors which all exporters must be aware of
and try to avoid if they want to build a global business.<a href="https://api.whatsapp.com/message/N4CI7UNDFE2ZM1?autoload=1&amp;app_absent=0&amp;utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog Banner WA 2.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a>Here are 5 common mistakes that exporters make and tips on how to avoid them:&nbsp; 1. 
Overlooking a Promising Foreign
Market:&nbsp;A promising foreign market
is - a country that not only has the highest demand for the export
product, but also one with a favourable business environment. Knowing which
foreign market is commercially viable, is the most basic rule of business. But
many exporters, especially those new to the trade, fail to recognize these
markets.In order to avoid this
mistake, exporters should try to focus on a few particular ideal markets
instead of catering to several countries at once. Streamlined efforts and focus
are the keys to achieve success in export business. Exporters should follow a “structured
research” approach to identify the best target markets, conduct easy and
inexpensive “secondary research” to short list the best markets, and then eliminate
those which are expensive, time consuming, or offer the least profit/return.
This process will help finalise a set of countries with the most feasible
market for the product.2. 
Not Localising
the Product:&nbsp;Exporters make the mistake of entering new foreign
markets without conducting a thorough market research, which may create marketing
problems and lead to choosing wrong distribution channels.Exporters need to
understand that foreign customers may not accept their product as-is and
delivered exactly like it is all over the world with no customisation. Before launching
the product in a foreign market, it is essential to research the local market, understand
the customers’ preferences and localise the product to suit the needs of the target
market. A well thought-out sales and marketing strategy that takes into
consideration the above points will help connect with the buyers in the new
market and create a strong foundation for the brand.3. 
Neglecting to Conduct a Background Check:&nbsp;A trustworthy business partner with a good
reputation is essential for establishing a base in a new market. Often, in the
excitement of going global, exporters neglect to conduct basic due diligence or
background checks of their international business partner. This negligence can
lead to financial, market, and even reputation loss.To
avoid entering into a business agreement with a disreputable company, exporters
must themselves carry out a background check or hire an agency to conduct one
on their behalf.4. 
Failing
to Insure Goods:&nbsp;In
international logistics, accidents happen. Ships can crash, catch fire, or sink;
goods may get stolen or damaged. These incidents and accidents result in
financial loss and damage to the product.Exporters can avoid or at
least minimize the loss arising out of transportation by getting an adequate
insurance cover for their goods. They can either approach insurance providers
themselves or discuss available options with their freight forwarders. Before
choosing an insurance policy, it is important for exporters to discuss
insurance requirements with the importer, understand the terms of the policies
and what they cover, and find out if any special insurance provisions are
required for their product.<a href="https://cogoport.com/signup/en-IN/?utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog-Banner-Portal-1.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a>5.Picking
the Wrong Service Providers:&nbsp;There are many parties involved in
an export process. Some of the important participants are – banks, freight
forwarders, shipping lines, and intermodal transport providers. The successful
completion of an export shipment depends on how all the participants carry out
the process assigned to them. It is important for an
exporter to pick efficient and trustworthy service providers who can cater to
his business requirements at a competitive rate and in the least possible
amount of time. 






If you are having
difficulty in finding the right and trustworthy service providers, just <a href="https://www.cogoport.com/signup">sign
up</a> with <a href="https://www.cogoport.com/">Cogoport</a>.&nbsp;At Cogoport,
you will not only get access to reliable service providers, but also get the best possible rates and customized shipping solutions.

5 Common Export Mistakes to Avoid

After holding 2 successful drives for clearing pending GST dues of exporters, CBIC has launched the 3rd edition, from July 16 to 30.The CBIC notification is appended below for your reference and use.<img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/2cab85f00b556a9f65dd6cf9e90e979c/Press%20Note.jpg" style="letter-spacing: 0.01rem;" alt="CBIC GST Refund Notification" class="center" width="">

CBIC announces 3rd drive for pending GST refunds

Bilateral trade between India and Pakistan is one of the greatest missed opportunities in South Asia. In August 2019, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic relations with India and ceased trading altogether. The neighbours have turned their backs on any short-term trade benefits. However, the situation wasn’t always so.<a href="https://cogoport.com/signup/en-IN/?utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog-Banner-Portal-3.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a>The two countries share a long list of disputes – border control of Kashmir, rights to Indus river water, four wars, financial settlements from the Partition, and most recently, terrorist attacks and counter-offensives. As a result, trade between the two countries suffers. Trade depends on diplomatic and mutually beneficial relations. Political disputes are bad news for bilateral trade.<h3>Latent Potential</h3>The extensively shared land border with road and railway connectivity lends itself to a lot more trade. The shipping routes also contribute. The ports of Mumbai and Karachi are a mere 589 nautical miles through the Arabian Sea, but the political landscape trumps the physical proximity.Disproportionate costs, trade barriers, high levels of informal traffic, complicated non-tariff measures and a long list of product restrictions are contributing factors. The two countries account for 88% of South Asia’s GDP and 86% of its population. Both would benefit from a renewal of trade ties.As of 2018, the potential for reciprocal trade between the two Indus valley nations stands at a whopping $37billion, according to a World Bank report. But in 2017-18, the total value of trade between the two was a mere $2.4billion. This volume accounted for a meagre 0.31% of India’s total trade with the world and just about 3.2% of Pakistan’s global trade, points out India’s pink paper The Economic Times. The missed opportunity is massive.<a href="https://api.whatsapp.com/message/N4CI7UNDFE2ZM1?autoload=1&amp;app_absent=0&amp;utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog Banner WA 3.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a>So, why aren’t they trading?As of mid-2019, tensions are heightened.In response to the Indian government’s revocation of Article 370 that ended Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, Pakistan severed trade ties with India.But Pakistan’s radical decisions don’t necessarily put it at the losing end. India surpasses Pakistan’s population by over a billion people. The actual effect of this trade embargo on Pakistan’s economy is insignificant when its GDP per capita comes into play.The reality is that both countries are not major trading partners for each other. In comparison with their respective global trade, the inter-Indus trade is insignificant.Pakistan trades heavily with the US, China, Afghanistan and the UK. India, its next-door neighbour, makes number 13 on this list. It also ran a trade deficit with India at a value of $1.6billion at the time of suspension. So, that might be a blow to the economy, but it will only be temporary. At the same time, India trades with the US, UAE, China and Singapore. Pakistan doesn’t even make its top 15 trading partners.India is the rising star of Asia. With the highest rate of predicted GDP growth, rising middle class and smartphone penetration, it should be the go-to destination for any trading partner. India is providing impetus to its economy to deliver on growth predictions. It is busy forging new partnerships with other Asian countries while Pakistan is focusing on strengthening ties with the middle east.One thing is for sure, if the two countries were to set their differences aside and resume trade, they would both walk away as winners.

India-Pakistan Political Dispute: Affect on Trade

<img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/cbf421861ddbe56377f7cb18906b80e2/mauro-licul-388509-unsplash-turned.jpg" alt="mauro-licul-388509-unsplash-turned.jpg" class="center" width=""> Sometimes you can’t tell one week from the other. That can be because your calendar is filled to the brim, but it can also be that the news you read feels like more of the same. As I’m experiencing both, let’s go straight to this week’s news highlight’s: Portside EfficiencyAt Cogoport we make booking a container more efficient. Moving containers around the port and on and off ships needs to be more efficient as well. As the rise in competition between carriers is driving down the revenue per container, these carriers are pressuring ports to improve efficiency in terminal operations. Automation seems to be the key.“Some terminals are handling more volume, but in some markets the revenue per TEU is decreasing – or certainly not increasing the way it used to – so they’re having to manage their business in a different way. “That efficiency drive has two parts: one is to be the better service provider [than regional port competitors]; but also to reduce your costs, which therefore either gives you more flexibility on the commercial side, or it means you’re a more profitable business,”→Ports need to think outside the box to make their terminals more cost-effective Digitization and AutomationAn interesting study came out done by PwC: “The Era of Digitized Trucking: Charting Your Transformation to a New Business Model.” It made me think of digitizing shipping and how that changes business models as well. More on that in a future post.“A consistently digitized supply chain saves administrative overheads, replaces time-consuming inventory, and reduces insurance costs by cutting error rates. In total, savings of up to 41% are possible by 2030 compared to today's supply chains.”→<a href="https://www.supplychain247.com/article/digitization_and_autonomous_driving_to_halve_logistics_costs_by_2030">Digitization and Autonomous Driving to Halve Logistics Costs by 2030, finds PwC Study</a>Also in that category a study by Deloitte:“Continue to monitor advancements in autonomous robots for applicability to the supply chain. Autonomous robotics have the potential to improve operations, and they offer new opportunities to increase productivity, reduce risk, decrease cost, and improve data collection, particularly as customer expectations and volumes of packages, shipments, and orders reach unsustainable levels for traditional approaches.”→<a href="https://www.supplychain247.com/paper/using_autonomous_robots_to_drive_supply_chain_innovation">Using Autonomous Robots to Drive Supply Chain Innovation</a>And autonomous shipping news from the UK:“The U.K.'s Maritime &amp; Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Department for Transport will study new ways of regulating the autonomous and smart shipping industries to help them deliver new technologies to the traditional maritime sector.The £1 million (US $1.3 million) grant will underwrite a new Maritime Autonomy Regulation Lab, where regulators, academics and industry representatives will investigate the best methods for regulating vessels operated remotely and autonomously.The global autonomous shipping industry is predicted to grow into a $136 billion behemoth by 2030, according to U.K. maritime regulators."→<a href="https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/uk-grant-autonomous-shipping-regulations/539180/">UK grant will study autonomous shipping regulations</a> More Surcharges and Carrier RatesMore on surcharges and carrier rates in addition to the items mentioned&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cogoport.com/en-IN/blogs/this-week-in-ocean-freight-181005">last week</a>.“Anecdotal reports from The Loadstar’s sources refer to a “sharp dip” in load factors on the route in the two weeks leading up the national factory shutdown, from a peak season high of over 95% to below 90%. The demand slowdown reinforces the strategy of carriers to axe more than 200,000 teu of headhaul capacity this month, including the 2M’s AE2/Swan loop.”“Meanwhile, on the transpacific tradelane, the jury is still out on the impact on forward bookings of US retailers stocking up in advance of Trump trade tariff hikes on a vast range of consumer imports.”→Box carriers sail towards a tipping point of ocean freight rates and fuel“The IMO’s 0.5% sulphur fuel cap will cause an “existential crisis” for container carriers, unless they can pass on the added bunker costs to shippers.”“However, speculation is mounting as to whether carriers will be able to successfully pass on all the extra cost, having failed to do this during the first half of 2018 when their earnings were hit by a steady rise in bunker prices.”→2020 sulphur fuel cap may spark a crisis for carriers that can't recover the cost More on the US-China Trade War“Despite tariffs on billions of dollars worth of imports coming in from China, imports at U.S. container ports are expected to stay at "near record levels," the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates said.Retailers "are not able to quickly or easily change their sourcing," Jonathan Gold, NRF vice president for supply chain and customs policy, said in a statement. As a result, many businesses will continue to import products from production facilities in China.”→<a href="https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/tariffs-retail-imports-record-levels-NRF-hackett/539339/">Tariffs are not slowing down retail imports</a>“The US-China trade war has seemed “positive” for transpacific shipping lines, so far, with importers rushing to beat tariff deadlines. But there is growing concern that a prolonged dispute would leave shippers with question marks on whether to reorganise their supply chains.”→China-US trade war brings box carriers a bonus – but 2019 looks less promising SustainabilityAnd there was the climate change report that the IPCC published. You can read a nice recap in the last article of this week:“It’s clear that the benefits to the world of mitigating climate change are greater than the costs of mitigating climate change”→<a href="https://qz.com/1416250/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-1-5c-climate-change-report">Everything you need to know about the new 1.5°C climate-change report</a>Photo by&nbsp;Mauro Licul on&nbsp;Unsplash

Ports: Digitization and Sustainability

The movement of goods by the freight forwarding industry - taking the right product to the right place - has been in sync over time. Every experienced stakeholder has carved out a strategic niche (read, a profitability formula) to survive in the industry. With a cut and paste process in place, those shy of transparency and seamlessness in the system have fared even better. The mantra being&nbsp;–&nbsp;the more ‘broken’&nbsp;the process, the better they fare. In a nutshell, the number of service providers mediating the `inefficiencies’&nbsp;have kept growing. There is evidence that too many opportunists among them have led to the glaring inadequacies in the value chain. And so, when the world is actually shrinking to bring a customer and a supplier closer, this value chain keeps expanding. There is no mention of removing the&nbsp;“inefficiencies”&nbsp;at all.This dichotomy points to an emerging storyline that seems inevitable&nbsp;–&nbsp;a new alignment of freight centres may soon alter the geopolitics of the entire game. Suddenly, there appears room for newer players in an industry that has never seen any kind of paradigm shift anywhere – whether in India or anywhere else in the world. Have a longer association with this industry, and you can perceive a potential change in the behavioural pattern of users. A very very human touch industry seems right on the anvil of change. Watch this space for more…. Next: ‘User Behaviour. Change, will you?”

Disruption in B2B – Still a fait accompli?

The success of your sales efforts, go-to-market strategies, and new product launches is, to a large extent, dependent on how well you&rsquo;ve linked the different touch points of your supply chain &ndash; starting from procuring raw material to delivering the finished product to the right market at the right time.
&nbsp;
Logistics is the backbone of business; local or global. No business can succeed without effective and efficient logistics partners. How you select and manage your logistics service providers will impact the outcome of your carefully crafted business strategies.
More often than not, most companies identify and select logistics partners based on the cost of service projected by the potential service providers. A select few give importance to efficiency and base their vendor selection on this parameter alone.
While both cost and efficiency are important attributes of a logistics partner, neither can be looked at in isolation nor is it enough to base your vendor selection on only these two attributes.
What should one look for in a logistics partner? 
An ideal logistics partner is one who is invested in your organization&rsquo;s success as much as you are. The right partner should, along with optimal pricing and efficient service, also possess the following attributes:
<a href="https://api.whatsapp.com/message/N4CI7UNDFE2ZM1?autoload=1&amp;app_absent=0&amp;utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="width: auto; height: auto;" src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog Banner WA 3.png" width="auto"></a>
1. Technology:&nbsp;Supply chain is evolving. It is becoming digital, functionally inter-dependent, and highly complicated. One can no longer expect operational efficiencies by following age-old manual methods or by working in silos. Thus, when choosing a partner to lead your logistics function, it is imperative to bring on board a company that understands the importance of integrating different touch points in the supply chain and functions in a digital environment.
E.g. If you&rsquo;re looking for a transport provider, then check whether they offer multi-modal transport solutions? How do they take bookings? Do they offer a digital platform to book cargo loads? In case of road transport, ask if their carriers are equipped with GPS? For all modes of transport, find out if the company provides real-time cargo tracking?
Similarly, if you&rsquo;re looking for a warehouse partner, check if they have the latest equipment to handle inventory. Find out how they keep stock records. Ask if their system can be integrated with yours?
Another point that you must ascertain is the tech savviness of the team. Specially the team-on-the-ground. Is their team trained to work in a digital environment? Can they adapt to new systems and processes with ease?
If it is an end-to-end logistics management company that you want to partner with, then along with all the above aspects, you also need to understand how they integrate the various logistical functions within their organization and how their technology can be synchronised with your organization&rsquo;s processes and systems.
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2. Market Acumen:&nbsp;Right from the top management to the team that will handle the day-to-day activities for your organisation, should have an understanding of the industry and the market that you operate in. These insights will help them serve you better, which in turn will benefit your end customers.
3. Business Reach and Scale:&nbsp;Global is the new local. A logistics partner is a key contributor in ensuring that your products reach customers around the globe with minimum effort, on-time and in good (saleable) condition.
Scale of operations is another crucial aspect that you need to consider when partnering with a logistics service provider. Understand their business development plan. Will they be able to service your business growth? Can they manage sudden market-driven demand? If in the event they themselves do not possess the ability to cater to unplanned trade, do they have a network of trusted business partners who can provide the required support?
4. Business Ethics:&nbsp;Assume&nbsp;technology, systems, and processes are in place. The pricing is competitive and the team is stellar. Is this enough to appoint this organization as your business partner?
No. Given the important role that logistics plays in making your business successful, along with the operational efficiencies, you must also conduct due diligence on their work ethics and business practices. This goes beyond the regular credit and KYC checks.
Before signing on the dotted line, seek out the responses to the following questions - are their transactions and dealings transparent? Are they reliable? What is their reputation in the market? How do they treat their resources and manage their team? How do they manage their finances? Do they follow industry best practices? And, in case of transport providers &ndash; are they following the rules laid down for carriers and drivers?
It is necessary to carry out a hygiene check for business partners, because in the long run their reputation and standing in the market will affect yours too.
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5. Responsiveness to Business Needs:&nbsp;Customer service is another key factor that needs to be assessed before partnering with a logistics service provider.
Before you finalise on a vendor, find out if their customer service team is willing&nbsp;to go the extra mile to find the most optimum solutions for your business? Is the team proactive? Can they take ownership of the business process outsourced to them? Can they foresee problems and work on finding the most optimum solutions for your business?
A dedicated customer service team is necessary for ensuring successful management and execution of logistics plans.
Keep these key attributes in mind when you are looking to appoint a logistics partner. It will help you weed out partners that may not be in a position to offer you the logistical support you need to grow your business.
Reliability, transparency, and a dedicated customer success team is the hallmark of Cogoport!&nbsp;<a href="https://cogoport.com/signup">Register Now</a>&nbsp;to know more about how we can help you optimise your import and export logistics.

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