KESA ready to launch seriously

KESA (Korea-Europe Shippers Association), which the Korea International Freight Forwarders Association (KIFFA) has pushed for, is just getting into stride. The association announced that at present around 50 member forwarding companies have decided to participate in it. It is also under negotiations with 5 big shipping firms, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Hanjin Shipping, Senator Lines, Yangming Lines, and CMA-CGM, and will confirm through a general meeting which way KESA will go.

An official at KIFFA said, "still now, lots of forwarding companies are making inquiries about joining in KESA. Some remain doubtful regarding KESA and KASA (Korea-America Shippers Association)’s success, even though KASA has already been put into practice. Others remain quite positive toward KESA and KASA. Also it will be a shorter trial and error period with KESA due to previous experiences with KASA."

KESA seems to have more cargoes in Korean and European trades than in Korean and North American trades, which KASA collected.

According to a person concerned, "Currently, cargoes in European trade with KESA could be estimated to be about 6,500 FEU. The first KASA estimates involved imaginary numbers. However, KESA will be close with real numbers of cargoes through practical analysis based on last year's data."

Meanwhile KASA also collected member companies up to March 9th.