Boom in Breakbulk Transportation Reawakens Famed Silk Road

NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Centuries ago, the ancient Silk Road connected China to East Asia and Europe and fundamentally changed the world. Today, expansion of the project cargo and heavy-lift transportation business is pushing a resurgence in this overland route's popularity. The current issue of Breakbulk Magazine examines economic and logistical arguments for moving goods from China into the European Union via road and rail.

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Breakbulk carriers traverse a lengthy, rugged route that stretches from eastern China's ports and factories into Kazakhstan and further, carrying huge pipes, boring machines, turbines, generators and other machinery for use in the region's booming oil, gas and minerals industries. "I definitely knew this market was a playground for the future," Siddique Khan, president and CEO of Kazakhstan-based Globalink Logistics Group, told Breakbulk. While today's freight forwarder has more options, this route has retained a key advantage -- a relatively short distance. Via the Silk Route, cargo can be moved from China to Europe in 14 days, compared to nearly four weeks by sea freight, Khan said.

Breakbulk's January-February 2012 issue provides a comprehensive outlook for the year ahead, with commentary from industry executives worldwide on challenges and strengths for the sector, as well as predictions by Drewry Shipping Consultants' Susan Oatway for the ocean carrier side of the market.

Industry conflicts in Brazil -- from problems with its ports to the protectionist policies complicating development of pre-salt offshore oil discoveries -- and expansion and rebuild projects in Rotterdam and Thailand are covered, as well as the steel industry, forest products, piracy and more.

About Breakbulk -- The Breakbulk division of UBM Global Trade has been the most trusted source of intelligence for the breakbulk and project cargo industry since its first breakbulk conference in 1989. The Breakbulk division includes the bimonthly Breakbulk Magazine, three annual conferences and exhibitions, several two-day congresses, and access to business news articles, indices, archives and more on Breakbulk.com and the weekly e-newsletter, Breakbulk Newswire. Authoritative editorial content in the form of daily news and in-depth analysis ensure Breakbulk members have the data and information necessary to understand the issues facing the breakbulk, heavy-lift and project cargo shipping sectors. For membership information visit www.breakbulk.com/membership.

About UBM Global Trade -- UBM Global Trade is the leading provider of proprietary data, news, business intelligence and analytical content supporting commercial maritime, rail, trucking, warehousing and logistics industries worldwide. The company's portfolio of more than 100 online, print and interactive workflow business solutions includes The Journal of Commerce, Breakbulk, RailResource, PIERS and an array of international trade and transportation databases and directories. UBM Global Trade, a subsidiary of UBM LLC, is headquartered in Newark, NJ, with offices throughout the United States. For more information, explore www.ubmglobaltrade.com or call 800-223-0243 (+1-973-848-7250 outside the U.S. or Canada).

SOURCE UBM Global Trade