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Pilot union plans call on European regulators for labor loophole closure
The European Cockpit Association will publicly appeal to European regulators to close the loophole, which it claims airlines are using to circumvent labor laws by hiring pilots and crew via outsourcing agencies rather than directly. ACMI or "wet leasing" is a common practice among airlines who hire out aircraft with crew, maintenance, and insurance. "Crew is disposable, just a number within the system." In a recent statement, ECA Secretary-General Ignacio Plaza told? that you can remove them on a one-day notice. The sudden collapse of ACMI-operated SmartLynx Airlines, based in Latvia, last October left hundreds pilots and cabin staff hired by outsourcing agencies without jobs and many without final pay. Former SmartLynx employees claim that the airline told them to apply via third-party agencies instead of hiring them directly. SmartLynx, one of Europe's leading wet-lease companies, was hired by airlines such as Scandinavian SAS, India's?IndiGo, and European leisure airline TUI Airways to boost capacity in times of need. According to a March 2025 company announcement, it had 68 aircraft in its fleet by 2024. SmartLynx parent company, Lithuania's Avia Solutions Group sold the airline in October last year for EUR1m ($1.16m) to an investment fund based in The Netherlands, which had been formed just a month before, and two SmartLynx executives who were minority owners. The airline owed EUR238 millions in debt. 73% of that was owed to other Avia solutions companies. It closed in November along with its subsidiaries in Malta, Estonia and Malta. The former CEO of the fund based in Netherlands did not respond when contacted for comment. Contact details?for this fund are not public. Contracts that we reviewed allowed for salary reductions, instant termination and limited employer obligations. A contract with Dubai-based Aerviva stated that any disputes will be resolved in English courts. A spokesperson for Aerviva said that SmartLynx never provided the required documents to Aerviva in order to issue final pay-outs. In a 2025 study by the University of Ghent, it was found that?nearly 14 percent of the more than 4,400 pilots surveyed did not work for direct airlines. 65% of those pilots worked for ACMI operators. They reported poorer mental health, greater reluctance in reporting fatigue and higher job insecurity. Plaza stated that this issue is not limited to one airline. It is a question of whether Europe will allow airlines to run with employees who are indispensable in practice, but invisible when it comes to responsibility. $1 = 0.8633 Euros (Reporting from Dan Catchpole, Joanna Plucinska, Alessandro Parodi, and Alban Kachcher in Gdansk, with Jamie Freed as editor)
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Media reports: South Korea's concrete delivery halt threatens Samsung and SK Hynix chip factory work
South Korean media reported that the industrial action of South Korean truckers tasked with transporting concrete could delay major expansion projects at semiconductor 'plants by SK Hynix and?Samsung Electronics. The National Ready-Mixed Concrete Transport Workers' Union has suspended deliveries throughout the Seoul metropolitan region starting Monday. It said that this work stoppage would affect?around 8,000 members, as they demanded higher rates and other changes. The Chosun Ilbo reported that the participating union members blocked deliveries from?two cement plants in Pyeongtaek on Thursday, stopping the pouring concrete at the site of Samsung Electronics's chip plant. According to South Korea's Newsis, citing industry representatives, concrete work was also halted after deliveries at SK Hynix Yongin's chip plant. SK Hynix stated in a press release that the impact on the short term is expected to be?limited', since the company has changed its construction sequence. Samsung refused to comment while the union didn't immediately respond to an?invitation for a remark. The union had reached a tentative agreement with concrete producers, but its members rejected the deal in a vote on Wednesday, prolonging the strike. Newsis reported that the short-term effects would be minimal as some builders had already started work in anticipation of disruptions. However, a longer-term stoppage could have a negative impact on construction schedules. (Reporting and editing by Tom Hogue; Heekyong Yaya and Joyce Lee)
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From corn fields and cargo ships, early interest in ethanol as a marine fuel
Maersk, Vale and other shippers are using ethanol to reduce emissions. Its low cost and abundant supply make it more appealing than other fuels with lower carbon content. Further commercial use is expected to begin as soon as next year. The use of ethanol in shipping can open up a new market for the fuel which is in some countries blended with gasoline. It also offers'shipowners' another way to reduce conventional fuel consumption to meet emission targets. The global shipping industry is under increasing pressure to manage the uncertainty of oil prices as the hostilities in Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz - a vital waterway - highlight the risks of conventional fuel supply. Chris Chatterton is a maritime advisor at the Global Centre for Green Fuels. The ethanol can be blended into existing methanol ready vessels without requiring major retrofits or capital investment in a single fuel?strategy. Shipping industry tests alternatives to fuel oil, including ammonia and biodiesel. ETHANOL TRIALS FOR SHIPS WITH METHANOL ENGINES Maersk, a shipping company, completed its first two 100% ethanol sailings?in the quarter and last year. This followed earlier tests on 10% and 50% blends of ethanol on a vessel that was designed to run either on methanol or on fuel oil. Maersk sees ethanol as a complementary fuel to methanol. Maersk's spokesperson said that ethanol is a good candidate for exploration because of its established global market, existing infrastructure and similar properties to methanol. Singapore shipping group XPress?Feeders also said that it had tested a marine fuel mixture consisting of 90% methanol and 10% ethanol on a container ship in Rotterdam. Vale, a Brazilian company that uses ships to transport ore, has announced a contract with China's Shandong Shipping Corp. for the construction of two vessels capable of running on ethanol, heavy fuel oil, or methanol. According to Everllence, a Swiss engine manufacturer, ethanol can be used in existing methanol compatible engines without requiring major retrofits. DNV data shows that the number of vessels capable of using methanol is expected to increase from 107 by 2025 to 450 in 2030. Around 313 of the 450 vessels on order are newbuilds. Chatterton, GCGF's Chatterton, said that green methanol, derived renewable resources, faces short-term supply restrictions. Chatterton stated that "Maersk is explicit in its assertion that methanol is a major challenge to scaling up alternative fuels. That is why ethanol has been introduced." CORN ABUNDANT IN THE U.S. AND BRAZILIAN The main feedstock for ethanol is corn. Top producers like the U.S.A. and Brazil have plenty of it. Methanol derived from fossil sources is conventional?methanol. As yields per acre increase, the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects a domestic corn supply of 17 billion bushels in 2025-2026. This is the highest ever. The Renewable Fuels Association (a U.S. group of ethanol producers) said that if ethanol captured 5% market share in the marine fuels sector, it would increase corn demand by up to 1.5 billion bushels and demand for ethanol by between 4 billion and 5 billion gallons. Growth Energy, a U.S. trade group for biofuels, has been lobbying for tax rules to encourage the use of more ethanol. ETHANOL EFFICIENCY Ethanol has a higher energy content per kilogram than Methanol. This means that ships need less fuel to cover the same distance. Despite this, the energy content of ethanol is still lower than conventional fuel oil, which requires about 50% more fuel to reach the same output. Depending on the location and volume, ethanol costs are comparable to low-sulphur conventional fuel oil (LSFO), but it is less expensive than green methanol. The U.S. Grains and Bioproducts Council reported that ethanol cost $700 per metric tonne if it was imported from the U.S. and more than $800 if it came from Asia. According to industry sources, LSFO in Asia can cost more than $750 per tonne, while green methanol is easily over $1,000 per tonne. Chatterton anticipates that more commercial ethanol-bunkering operations will emerge in the next 12-24 months. The first to move are likely to be Brazil's Santos, and Singapore as a top bunker hub. Singapore is developing standards and infrastructure to scale up alternative marine fuels. Rostom Merzouki is the global sustainability vice-president at ABS. He said that additional early activity in the U.S. Gulf will be linked to exports driven by ethanol supply chains. Merzouki anticipates that the first-pilot operation in Northwest Europe will expand to other important bunker hubs by late 2020.
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From corn fields and cargo ships, early interest in ethanol as a marine fuel
Maersk, Vale and other shippers are using ethanol to reduce emissions. Its abundant supply and low cost make it more appealing than other fuels with lower carbon content. Further commercial use is expected to begin as soon as next year. The use of ethanol for shipping could 'open up a new market for the fuel which is?in certain countries blended with gasoline. It also offers shipowners a way to reduce conventional fuel use in order to meet emissions reduction targets. The global shipping industry is under increasing pressure to manage the uncertainty of oil prices as the hostilities in Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz - a vital waterway - highlight the risks of conventional fuel supply. Chris Chatterton is a maritime advisor at the Global Centre for Green Fuels. The unique thing about ethanol is that, in this context, it can be blended into methanol and used on vessels already equipped with methanol. This does not require a major retrofit or a capital investment to implement a single fuel strategy. The shipping industry has been testing alternative fuels to oil, including ammonia and biodiesel. ETHANOL TESTS ON SHIPS EQUIPPED W/METHANOL ENGINES Maersk, a shipping group, completed its first two voyages using 100% ethanol last week. This follows earlier tests with 10% and 50% blends of ethanol on a vessel that was designed to run either on methanol or on fuel oil. Maersk sees ethanol as an addition to methanol which has been gaining popularity in recent years?as a shipping fuel alternative, though green methanol is still in limited supply. Maersk's spokesperson said that ethanol is a good candidate for exploration because of its established global market, existing infrastructure and similar properties to methanol. Singapore-based shipping company X-Press Feeders has said that it also tested a marine fuel mixture consisting of 90% methanol and 10% ethanol on a container ship in Rotterdam. Vale in Brazil, which transports iron ore by ship, has signed a contract with China's Shandong Shipping Corp for the construction of two vessels that can run on ethanol, heavy fuel oil, or methanol. According to Everllence, a Swiss engine manufacturer, ethanol can be used in existing methanol compatible engines without major retrofits. DNV data shows that the number of vessels capable of using methanol is expected to increase from 107 by 2025 to 450 in 2030. Around 313 of the 450 vessels on order are newbuilds. Chatterton, GCGF's Chatterton, said that green methanol, derived renewable resources, faces near term supply constraints. Chatterton stated that "Maersk is explicit in its assertion that methanol is one of the main challenges to scaling up alternative fuels. That is why ethanol has been introduced." CORN AVAILABLE IN BRAZIL AND THE U.S. The main feedstock for ethanol is corn. Top producers like the U.S.A. and Brazil have plenty of it. Methanol conventionally produced is derived from fossil-fuels. As yields per acre increase, the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects a domestic corn supply of 17 billion bushels in 2025-2026. This is the highest ever. The Renewable Fuels Association (a U.S. group of ethanol producers) said that if ethanol captured 5% market share in the marine fuels sector, it would increase corn demand by up to 1.5 billion bushels and demand for 4 billion to 5 billion gallons. Growth Energy, a U.S. trade group for biofuels, has been lobbying for tax rules to encourage the use of more ethanol. ETHANOL EFFICIENCY Ethanol has around 35% more energy per kilo than methanol. This means that ships need less fuel to cover the same distance. The energy content of ethanol is still lower than conventional fuel oil, which requires about 50% more fuel to reach the same output. Depending on the location and?volume of ethanol, it is comparable to low-sulfur fuel oil (LSFO), but cheaper than green methanol. The U.S. Grains and Bioproducts Council reported that ethanol cost $700 per metric tonne on a U.S. loading base and more than $800 for imports from Asia as of early June. Industry sources?said that LSFO in Asia costs more than $750 per tonne, whereas green methanol is easily priced at over $1,000 per tonne. Chatterton anticipates that more commercial ethanol-bunkering operations will emerge in the next 12-24 months. The first to move are likely to be Brazil's Santos, and Singapore as a top bunker hub. Singapore is developing standards and infrastructure to scale up alternative marine fuels. Rostom Merzouki is the global sustainability vice-president at ABS. He said that additional early activity in the U.S. Gulf will be linked to exports driven by ethanol supply chains. Merzouki anticipates that the first-pilot operation in Northwest Europe will expand to other important bunker hubs by late 2020.
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Indian sailors fined $6 Million in Lagos Cocaine Case
The National Drug Law Enforcement 'Agency (NDLEA), a Nigerian agency, announced on Thursday that a Nigerian court had convicted 11 Indian sailors, and their vessel, of trafficking cocaine into?country. They were fined a total of $6 million. The Federal High Court of Lagos found the crew of the merchant vessel MV Aruna Hulya to be guilty of concealing 31.5 kilograms cocaine aboard the vessel in Apapa port. The case is part of an broader crackdown on drug trafficking by Nigerian authorities through commercial entry points like Lagos. Nigeria has worked to increase?enforcement of drug trafficking networks that use Nigeria as a transit country for illicit substances bound for Europe and other market. The agency reported that the crew, including captain Sharma Shashi Bhushan, and 10 other Indian citizens, were arrested on January 2, after NDLEA operatives discovered the?drugs concealed in one of 'the ship’s storage compartments. The court found all 12 defendants guilty, including the ship itself, under Nigeria's antidrug laws. The local law also applies to the ship that transported the drugs. The drug enforcement agency's spokesman said that the defendants had accepted the terms of conviction, and the document was then presented to the judge in order for it to be sealed. The?ship had to pay restitution of $5.3 million to the Nigerian Government, and each crew member had to pay a fine?100,000. Owners of the ship are responsible for the fine, and if the owner is unable to pay it, then the vessel will be auctioned. The remaining crew members were each ordered to pay $50,000, which brings the total financial penalties to around $6 million. The total financial?penalties were about $6 million. NDLEA chairman Mohamed Buba Marwa stated that the judgment sends a powerful signal to international drug-trafficking networks.
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After Alpine appeal, motor racing penalties in Monaco are being reviewed
On Thursday, two time penalties for pitlane speeds that cost Pierre Gasly the podium at last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix were being reviewed after it was revealed Formula One made a measurement error. In a statement made at the Barcelona-Catalunya grand prix, the Stewards stated that the Frenchman’s Renault-owned Alpine Team was able to submit a petition for review in both cases. A second hearing could be held. The stewards also accepted that there were significant new elements that they did not have at the time the decisions were made last Sunday. Alpine argued that the stewards were not aware of the issue with the timing loops at the pit lane, but that the governing FIA (Foundation One Management) and the governing FIA knew about it before the race. SPEED MEASUREMENT IS INACCURATE OR OVERESTIMATED Alpine said it also had data that showed Gasly had activated his car's speed limiter before entering pit lane, and had stayed inside the limit. The submission stated "FOM as Official Timekeeping supplier to the Competition provided evidence that distance?used in calculating F1 Official Timing was inaccurate and underestimated the speed of the Car 10 (Gasly). The Stewards confirmed that the incorrect distance measurement was only confirmed by the?FOM on Wednesday, after the race. The team also noted that they had raised concerns during the race following three initial 'pitlane speeding violations and asked race control whether there was a problem with the system. They said that "Race Control reported back that they raised the issue with the official timekeeper, and were reassured there was no problem." Gasly was third in the Monaco road race, which is a home race of sorts for him and his team. However, he was demoted to 7th after two 5-second penalties. Gasly was recorded at 60.1 kph and 60.4 km/h, when the speed limit is 60 kph. Gasly stated that he felt "absolutely broken" by the penalties, and that "a dream I've had for my entire life of being on the podium in Monaco was taken from me because of reasons I cannot understand". Red Bull's Isack Hadjar could have been reinstated, but that would be problematic, as other drivers were also penalised. Eight of the eleven teams, except for Alpine, requested to attend the virtual hearing. The final decision was still pending. "I thought in the race, it was fairly obvious." "I thought there was something strange going on, because you only get a penalty if you have two or three cars in the same race. But not if you had seven or eight," said Oscar Piastri of McLaren. It's obvious that it has affected the outcome of the race one way or the other. If I hadn't received a penalty, I would not have pitted. "They can't change the outcome now, because it has happened?before" (Gasly’s penalty). George Russell of Mercedes, who was out of points in a race that his teammate Kimi won, claimed he had pleaded to the FIA for a post-race punishment rather than the drive through he received, which could not be reversed once it had been served. (Reporting and editing by Alex Richardson, Clare Fallon, and Alan Baldwin)
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Trump cancels strike against Iran scheduled for Thursday evening
Donald Trump, the U.S. President, announced on Thursday that he had canceled his planned strikes against Iran. This came after he threatened to 'bomb' more oil export hub Kharg Island and said he wanted to "take" it. Trump said in a Truth Social post that "based on the fact the discussions with the 'Islamic Republic of Iran were brought to the highest level of Iranian leaders - and approved", I, as the President of the United States of America, have cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings this evening against Iran. Trump claimed that "discussions" and "final points" were?approved? by the United States of America, Israel, Saudi Arabia UAE, Qatar?Turkey Pakistan Bahrain Kuwait Jordan Egypt?and?others. He said: "The Naval Blockade is in full force and effect until the 'Transaction' is finalized. The time and location of a?signing will be announced shortly." (Reporting and editing by Doina chiacu in Toronto, Susan Heavey, Ryan Patrick Jones)
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Grupo Mexico, U.S. partner eye Argentina grain freight network in Milei privatization push
Mexico's Grupo Mexico Transportes (GMXT), has signed a contract with the United States. Wabtec, a rail technology company, will bid jointly for Argentine's state-run cargo operator Belgrano Cargas y Logistica BCYL (BCYL), a GMXT employee said on Thursday. Source requested anonymity as they were not authorized by GMXT to discuss the deal. The privatization of BCYL, which is proposed by President Javier Milei, is part of his drive to transfer state owned companies into private ownership. Argentina will soon publish the documents for the privatization of BCYL. BCYL operates three of the largest freight trains in Argentina. The company didn't respond to our request for comment. Grupo Mexico?Transportes is a unit within Grupo Mexico. This conglomerate based in Mexico. Local media reported that several other companies had also expressed an interest in bidding. Rio Tinto, Bunge,?Cargill Company, Asociacion de Cooperativas Argentinas, and Aceitera General Deheza are among the companies that have expressed interest in bidding. Argentinian firm operates?Urquiza and Belgrano freight lines that together?transport?7.5 millions tons of produce each year, of which 60% are agricultural products or derivatives. The privatization plan aims to improve 'the transport of goods, such as grains, from the north and western parts of the country to the key export ports in the Rosario region. Argentina is a major grain supplier in the world and its mining sector is growing. (Reporting and editing by Inigo Alexandre and Sanjeev Miklani; Lucila Sigal)
What can oil prices tell you about the market? Not a lot: Bousso
The global oil market is experiencing a series of price spikes due to geopolitical tensions and the opaque stockpiling. Western sanctions and tightening Western sanction are also causing traders to be in the dark.
There are questions about the accuracy of prices reflecting physical fundamentals due to the growing influence of unpredictable external forces on one of world's most liquid and largest commodity markets.
In fact, it appears that the global oil market is struggling to find a balance between supply and demand. The International Energy Agency predicts that oil production will exceed demand this year by 3.7 million barrels per day, which is more than 3%.
Prices tell a very different story. Brent crude oil prices, which are the benchmark for all other crude oils, have fluctuated in recent weeks. However they remain stable at over $65 per barrel.
The forward curve also shows a steep backwardation. This is a characteristic structure that's usually associated with a tight supply.
What is the explanation? The uncertainty surrounding events in the Middle East played a part over the last few weeks. Oil prices have risen to $70 per barrel due to the risk of U.S. strikes against Iran and the potential for the conflict to spread across the entire region.
The CBOE crude volatility index is at its highest level since last June's 12-day Israel-Iran conflict.
U.S. and Iranian tensions will only be a short-term issue, unless they spiral out of control. However, other long-term trends could obscure the picture of supply and demand for many months.
STOCKS ARE BUILDING
Stocks are increasing globally, which is a sign that the market is oversupplied. Geopolitical fragmentation creates regional divergences which complicates this simple equation.
Morgan Stanley predicts that global crude stocks will rise by 730 million barrels in this year, or 520 million barrels. According to ROI estimates, the bulk of the stockpile was in China. The country has placed around 800,000 barrels per day into storage during the last year. This figure indicates an increase of over 300 million barrels by 2025.
China's exact crude reserves and storage capacity are still unclear. The strategic reserves of China are largely hidden underground, beyond the reach of satellites. This makes it difficult to know how much is actually in storage and how much can be added.
China's buying strategy is also uncertain. Beijing has a tendency to reduce its purchases when prices increase, so the stockpiling may have been slowed after recent price increases near $70 per barrel. The market doesn't know.
This opacity is a major blind spot for the oil markets and has changed the way that rising storage levels are interpreted.
In the past, oil prices were closely tied to changes in inventories of countries that are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, notably those from America and Europe which have long been dominant forces on global demand. A rise in stockpiles was generally considered negative.
Martijn Rats is an analyst with Morgan Stanley. He says that the buildup of visible OECD inventory signals a negative price signal, but the Chinese stockbuildups are perceived as a bullish sign, indicating heightened demand, which offsets this.
This could explain why the crude oil prices haven't dropped despite an increase in global inventories.
CONFUSION GEOPOLITIQUE
Western sanctions against several oil-producing countries are complicating the picture.
Kpler reports that China, India, and Turkey are importing 3.5 million barrels per day (bpd) of Venezuelan, Iranian, and Russian crude. This is expected to increase to 4.5 million by 2025. This picture is changing following the ban imposed by the European Union, which took effect on 21 January, on imports from?fuels refined using Russian crude and President Donald Trump increasing pressure on India to reduce Russian oil purchases.
India has cut its Russian crude imports by about 1 million barrels per day this year. This is down from 1.6 millions bpd a decade ago. According to Trump, India also promised to reduce further purchases.
These changes are forcing market adjustments. Western restrictions have boosted the demand for barrels that are not sanctioned and for tankers that comply with regulations. This has increased costs for refiners in Asia because of limited production.
Since early January, Asian refinery margins are smaller than those of Europe. The former averages around $6 per barrel this year while the latter is $9. The main reason for this difference is logistics costs.
Keshav Lhiya is the CEO of HiLo Analytics. He said that freight was a significant regional differentiator in 2018.
According to LSEG, freight rates for a VLCC sailing from the 'Middle East' or?West Africa to Asia has risen by nearly 150% in the past year.
Shipping costs for Asian refiners can exceed $3 per barrel, while they are closer to $2 in Europe.
The restrictions have also led to an increase in the amount of crude oil that is being sold at sea, as the sellers are struggling to find buyers.
Russia, Iran and Venezuela are responsible for 30% of the crude oil in transit. This is a far greater share than they have exported. It also indicates a slower rate of discharge as traders struggle to position the barrels.
This leads to a market which appears both oversupplied and unusually tight.
This tension is a reflection of a market that is increasingly driven by geopolitics, and by the behavior of opaque stockpilers.
Oil prices will likely remain out of sync until transparency is improved or political risks are reduced.
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(source: Reuters)