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CEVA Logistics has expanded its presence in West Africa through a new joint venture with EFL Africa, a leading Nigerian logistics company. The newly established entity, CEVA EFL Limited, is expected to enhance logistics connectivity across Nigeria and provide customers with greater access to international supply chain networks.
The partnership brings together CEVA Logistics’ extensive global reach and end-to-end logistics capabilities with EFL Africa’s established local infrastructure and market expertise. The move underscores the growing importance of Nigeria as a strategic logistics hub and gateway to West Africa, a region experiencing increasing trade activity and supply chain investments.
Through the joint venture, businesses operating in Nigeria will gain access to a broader portfolio of integrated logistics services, including freight forwarding, transportation, customs brokerage, warehousing and inland logistics solutions. By combining local market knowledge with international logistics capabilities, CEVA EFL aims to address longstanding operational challenges while improving supply chain efficiency for customers across the region.
A key feature of the new operation is its dedicated barge transportation service designed to move containers between Lagos ports and Inland Container Depots (ICDs). The initiative is expected to reduce reliance on congested road networks, shorten transit times and improve cargo flow in one of Africa’s busiest logistics corridors. The venture will also leverage approximately 140,000 square metres of ICD infrastructure located in Ikorodu and Apapa, including an Export Processing Terminal that supports import and export activities.
In addition, CEVA EFL will provide customs clearance services through an in-house licensed team, enabling faster cargo processing and greater visibility throughout the supply chain. Industry observers view the development as a significant step toward modernising logistics operations in Nigeria while strengthening the country’s role in regional trade.
The joint venture is also expected to support knowledge transfer and workforce development by combining global best practices with local operational expertise. Executives from both organisations have highlighted the partnership’s potential to create more resilient and customer-focused logistics solutions while contributing to economic growth in Nigeria and the wider West African market.
As supply chains continue to evolve across Africa, the launch of CEVA EFL reflects a broader trend of international logistics providers investing in strategic regional partnerships to strengthen market access, improve infrastructure utilisation and support cross-border trade growth.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
FedEx has introduced Global Trade Navigator, a new suite of digital tools designed to help businesses simplify international shipping, improve shipment data and navigate customs requirements with greater confidence. The initiative, announced on September 9, 2026, brings trade information and guidance earlier into the shipping process, helping businesses make more informed decisions and address potential clearance issues before they arise. International shipping can involve complex requirements related to customs documentation, duties, taxes, product classifications and regulatory compliance. FedEx said these challenges can affect businesses of all sizes. Its 2026 FedEx Small Business Trade Index found that 68% of small and medium-sized businesses regularly see customers surprised by duties at delivery, while 60% report losing revenue through refunds or abandoned purchases. Against this backdrop, Global Trade Navigator brings together digital capabilities covering key stages of international trade, from shipment planning and preparation to checkout, customs clearance and reporting. “International shipping requires businesses to make complex decisions long before a package begins its journey,” said Jason Brenner, senior vice president, digital portfolio, FedEx. “Building on decades of global trade expertise, Global Trade Navigator makes critical trade information and guidance more accessible to businesses as they grow internationally. The result is fewer surprises and a more predictable experience for businesses and consumers.” As part of the new offering, the FedEx Trade Planner will provide free, self-service guidance through fedex.com without requiring users to log in. Businesses can use the tool to look up Harmonized System codes, estimate duties, taxes and fees, and identify recommended documentation before creating a shipping label. FedEx is also enhancing FedEx Ship Manager, enabling customers to review product Harmonized System classifications, customs values and country-of-manufacture information. These capabilities are intended to improve the quality and completeness of shipment data before goods enter the international shipping process. For e-commerce businesses, the new FedEx Duty and Tax app on Shopify will allow merchants to display a duty and tax guarantee at checkout, giving customers greater visibility into potential import costs before completing purchases. Meanwhile, Global Trade APIs, available through the FedEx Developer Portal, will allow businesses to integrate product classifications, estimated duties and taxes, and regulatory information into their existing workflows. FedEx is also enhancing its Import Tool and Reporting capabilities, allowing customers to monitor customs clearance activity, identify required actions, manage payments and access global import and export data. The company said the tools are designed to serve a broad customer base, from small and medium-sized businesses undertaking international shipping for the first time to larger enterprises integrating trade information into established systems. The launch forms part of FedEx's wider investment in a more connected and intelligent international shipping experience aimed at helping businesses navigate cross-border trade complexity and expand globally. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
Flipkart has expanded the scope of its logistics business by opening its supply chain arm, Ekart, to external businesses, allowing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands, manufacturers and large enterprises to use its nationwide logistics infrastructure. The move marks a broader push by the e-commerce company to grow its business-to-business logistics operations beyond servicing its own marketplace. Under the new model, businesses can access Ekart's transportation, warehousing and fulfilment services without being part of the Flipkart ecosystem. The company has also introduced a franchise-based logistics network that currently operates through more than 300 outlets across cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Surat. Flipkart plans to expand this network to over 1,000 outlets by the end of 2026. The expansion is aimed at enabling smaller businesses to leverage an established national logistics network instead of investing in their own distribution infrastructure. In addition to freight movement and last-mile delivery, participating businesses will gain access to Ekart's warehousing facilities and technology platform to manage inventory, fulfilment and shipment tracking. The development reflects the increasing trend of e-commerce companies commercialising their in-house logistics capabilities as standalone service offerings. India's growing D2C ecosystem, coupled with rising demand for integrated supply chain solutions, has created new opportunities for logistics providers offering nationwide fulfilment, transportation and warehouse management services. Ekart has gradually expanded its third-party logistics portfolio in recent years through services such as warehousing, business-to-business transportation and integration with digital commerce platforms. The latest initiative further broadens its addressable customer base by making its end-to-end logistics network available to businesses across sectors. The company said the expanded network is designed to support businesses of varying sizes by providing access to nationwide logistics infrastructure, allowing them to focus on product development and market expansion while outsourcing supply chain operations. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
The Ministry of Railways has approved the appointment of Ajit Kumar Panda as the next Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR). The appointment was cleared by the Competent Authority through an order dated June 29, 2026, and will take effect when Panda assumes office on or after August 1, 2026. According to the company, Panda's tenure will continue until August 31, 2028, the date of his superannuation, or until further government orders, whichever comes earlier. He will serve in the ₹2,00,000–3,70,000 (IDA) pay scale. CONCOR also stated that the remaining statutory formalities under the Companies Act, 2013, and the SEBI Listing Regulations are currently being completed, with the necessary disclosures to be filed with the stock exchanges in due course. Currently serving as Director (Projects & Services) at CONCOR, Panda was recommended for the top position by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) in April 2026 following a competitive selection process involving senior executives from the railways, infrastructure and logistics sectors. Panda brings decades of experience in rail infrastructure, freight transportation and project execution. Before joining CONCOR, he worked as Executive Director (Mechanical Engineering and Project Planning & Development) at Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL). During his career in Indian Railways, he has also held several key positions, including Director (Production Units and Efficiency & Research) at the Railway Board and Chief Workshop Manager at East Coast Railway's Mancheswar Workshop. He has additionally served in multiple leadership roles under South Eastern Railway. His professional experience extends beyond railway operations. Panda has represented the rail sector on the boards of several special purpose vehicle companies, including Haridaspur Paradip Railway Company Limited, Angul Sukinda Railway Limited, Kutch Railway Company Limited, and Krishnapatnam Railway Company Limited, contributing to the development of critical rail connectivity projects. The selection followed a competitive PESB process drawing from senior executives across logistics, railways, infrastructure and government — a reminder of the depth of talent India’s public sector logistics ecosystem has built. The leadership transition comes at a time when CONCOR is navigating a challenging business environment. For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, the company reported a 12.38% year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit to ₹262.65 crore, while revenue from operations slipped 1.1% to ₹2,263.30 crore. Industry observers expect Panda's extensive operational experience in multimodal logistics and rail freight infrastructure to play a significant role in driving the company's next phase of growth and modernization.
