Customs News                                 Industry News                             Novo News
Imports:

Spring 2010
ISF 10+2 is now permanently in place, and operating with few issues. The initial lack of accurate data has almost gone away as BOTH penalties and or "No Load" actions will be taken against the shipper, the importer and even the carrier. We file our clients ISF 10+2, two days before loading at the foreign port Serious stuff. Imagine being "refused entry" because of missing security data required for each shipment They won't let ships enter any US Port, if they've failed to comply. 2000 containers onboard, and two aren't vetted? Back you go to a non US port and get rid of bad cans. It hasn't happened in some time since the world learned the hard way. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Port of San Francisco, has been Scanning EVERY CONTAINER processed through S.F./OAK for Radioactivity. Further the new X-Ray scanning trucks, have helped free up CBPO Inspectors from Intensive Exams duty, with their new hi-tech look into containers.

Over all 2010 Customs operations around Port of San Francisco, have continued to improve serving the Trade Community. Area Port Director for Port of San Francisco, Mr. John Leonard, in addition to running the 2nd largest West Coast seaport, has responsibility for San Francisco regional entry portals in, Sacramento, Fresno, Reno, Salt Lake City, Portland, and Eureka. Yet we met one on one in S.F, and he visited us in Reno since the 1st of the year. As a Nationally Licensed Customs Broker, we clear freight around the country with RLF. We can tell you, San Francisco is our fastest processing port period. Whether Ocean or Air, we enjoy the best service possible. 		Airlines & Air Freight

Air & Ocean & Trucking movement of freight is still way down,just about everywhere. The bounce that appeared in Europe this Fall, has fallen away, with new EU debt problems. This April3U'I,when all the Ocean contracts expire, we'll get an idea of where the Steamship Lines are with their new rates.

Air Cargo

Airlines are dumping recent new additions to their fleets. Modern or not they can't find enough freight to justify the bottom line expense to their new Boeing and Airbus freighters. It's crazy! The Air Freight Industry has never been WELL REGULATED. As an Industry, Global Air Freight Airlines, have cheated everybody. So now as they scramble under indictments, and disappearing customer loyalty, we have no allusions about the uncertain fate of the Air Cargo Industry. We check every rate, ever time, because folks, nothing is for certain anymore.

FUEL

Air, Ocean and Trucking are still very reactive to sudden fuel price spikes. Sadly those spikes were mostly caused by oil speculators on bits of economic recovery news... that was premature. However AAA reports that mid summer could see $3.50 to $4.00 gas prices, "IF", our economy grows at just 5 to 6 per cent GNP by then. Fuel will always be driving shipping costs, until we have solar powered cargo/tanker vessels. 		Spring 2010 New York, N.Y.

Novo Express Int'l Metro New York operations have continued to grow, with controlled temperature services to the food industry. Their volumes have continued to grow even in a down economy. Over all volumes into NY/NJ ports remain about 70%from a year ago.

Los Angeles, Long Beach, LAX

Novo Express Int'l and Novo Customs & Logistics operations have increased volumes for 2 months straight. Resulting in Mr. Conrado Sison, joining LAX, in the International Dept. By Peak season June-October, we'll see just how much volumes have grown. Peak Season rate hikes have always been volume driven. Demand is way down. How all the Steamship Lines read the tea leaves for our 2010 North American Holiday Season, will speak volumes..

San Francisco & Reno

Three months of positive growth, for both the Forwarder and Customs Brokerage sides of our business has been well received. San Francisco remains one of the hardest hit US Ports. With volumes nothing like New York Metro Region or Los Angles/Long Beach/LAX, the U.S.'s two largest volume ports, San Francisco's recent Port Audit showed the Dollar & Cents side of our slide.

In 2008 Port of SF processed $12,412,018,000.00 worth of Imports. In 2009 that figure was $9,633,156,890.00.....Folks that's down almost $3 Billion! At best a disaster for many freight and logistics companies, not to mention general industry companies already operating on the edge.

However, if you were already lean and mean in your operations, you survived. If you were already into Niche Markets, with year in year out growth, you did better than most. We were truly blessed to have such insulated partners, and forward thinking management.

Novo Express Int'l is on track to grow about 15 to 20 per cent in 2010! Novo Customs & Logistics has grown about 20% a year in 2008, 2009, and 2010 will be even better! Challenging issues remain for us all in 2010. Going forward with the correct fiscal policies, niche market partners, and continuous growth industries, continues to drive NOVO companies forward.