Dutch logistics solutions provider, Portbase, has successfully completed the first phase of their integration with blockchain-based platform, TradeLens. Together, they will handle operations and core processes for ports in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. According to the announcement, both Portbase and TradeLens expect to create a global ecosystem of carriers, ports, and terminals through a digital port infrastructure management system. Going forward, these upgrades will be powered by TradeLens’ blockchain infrastructure. Iwan van der Wolf, managing director of Portbase, explained how Blockchain is being used to more effectively organize the company’s operations: “It allows all players in the logistical chain to easily, …

TradeLens — the blockchain shipping platform created by IBM and Danish logistics giant Maersk — has signed on a major Turkish-owned international terminals operator. TradeLens is a global supply chain management platform designed for containerized freight and logistics, which was first launched by IBM and Maersk back in April 2018. It works by providing standards-based open APIs that allow supply chain data to be immutably and securely tracked and shared using a permissioned blockchain. Turkish-owned YILPORT Holding — which operates 22 terminals and 6 inland terminals across 11 countries — reportedly began integrating data from its Gebze and Gemport terminals …

Blockchain firm QuarkChain has announced a partnership with the ecological department of Northeastern Chinese province Shanxi. QuarkChain and the Shanxi province will jointly develop an environmental governance platform on blockchain (EGPB). This platform will be used by the local administration for construction resource management and trading. QuarkChain stated that, while limited construction materials are mostly located in a specific area, they are widely distributed to many places, creating the need for a management system that can better supervise the development and use of those resources. EGPB will be used for tracking resources along their supply chain. The network’s node operators …

Afghanistan’s healthcare ministry and several local pharmaceutical companies will use Fantom’s blockchain to combat counterfeit drugs. According to Fantom on July 6, its Opera blockchain will be used to track 80,000 units of four different pharmaceutical products in Afghanistan. After this initial pilot, the system will be scaled up to cover more products later this year. 50,000 units of hand sanitizer, 10,000 joint creams, 10,000 Kofol tablets and 10,000 Dioacare foot creams will be tracked during the pilot. The system is meant to address Afghanistan’s problem with counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Fantom stated that local law enforcement seized 100 tons of counterfeit, …

World’s top ecommerce firm, Amazon, filed a patent for a blockchain system that tracks goods as they move on the supply chain. Amazon’s patent — dated May 26 — describes a “distributed ledger certification” system. The document explains that the tracking solution would ensure that consumer goods that are sold on its ecommerce site are authentic. The abstract reads: “Features are disclosed for an interface for verifiable tracking of an item through a supply chain using a distributed electronic ledger.” In the detailed description section of the patent, its author explains that the system at large aims to improve “trust …

U.S. berry producer California Giant Berry Farms joined the blockchain-based food tracking solution IBM Food Trust. Fruit and vegetable news outlet The Packer reported on May 17 that California Giant will use a blockchain to share data between all the points of its supply chain. The firm employs Glassbit’s Glasschain IBM Food Trust integration compliance as a service solution. According to California Giant’s senior director of operations Thomas Taggart, the integration with IBM’s blockchain network will allow the firm and its partners to find ways to improve the efficiency of product transportation. Senior director of global food safety at Walmart, …

The World Economic Forum published a report looking at how the deployment of blockchain-based solutions can address the supply chain inefficiencies and failures that have been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside the report, the WEF has released a blockchain deployment toolkit intended to assist government and businesses in adapting their supply chains to the current economic climate and to “accelerate an economic rebound post-COVID-19.” World Economic Forums advocates DLT to restart the economy The report, published April 28, asserts that the resilience of private and public supply chains have been tested amid the coronavirus outbreak — citing the supply …

Teleport, the logistics division of major airline, AirAsia, has launched a blockchain-based cargo booking system called Freightchain. According to an April 16 announcement, Freightchain is “the world’s first digital air cargo network run on blockchain.” The network — which is launching today — allows shippers or freight forwarders to instantly book and confirm any of AirAsia’s 247 aircraft to carry cargo. Freightchain assigns shippers and their freight forwarders to cargo connections to help them with their supply chain needs, and facilitate bookings in real-time which are processed on-chain. The project’s chief technology officer, Vishal Batra, explained that the network is …

CargoSmart, the software wing of the Hong Kong-based Orient Overseas Container Line, aims to transform the cargo release process using its new blockchain application. According to a report published by Splash 247 on April 7, CargoSmart partnered with Cosco, Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG), and the electric vehicle and clean energy behemoth Tesla to conduct a pilot project for the application. Digitizing the shipping industry The traditional documentation processes of the shipping industry are cost and time-intensive, which makes the whole industry less efficient. CargoSmart has been conducting research and development for its application to reduce consignee and shipment agent …

As the COVID-19 pandemic brings major economies to their heel under lockdown, there is mounting concern that the global trade and supply chain system could buckle within weeks. Collapsed supply and demand, transport frictions, labor shortages and, in some cases, early signs of protectionism, are making it increasingly tough for suppliers to keep goods and services flowing across global value chains. While the depth of the crisis may be unprecedented, the authors of an April 6 report for the World Economic Forum argue that blockchain technology is key to mitigating the impact of such disruptions. Ziyang Fan, head of digital …

Covantis, a blockchain agribusiness initiative backed by major industry company ConsenSys, has taken another step towards transforming global trade and supply chain operations. Backed by global agribusiness giants like Cargill and Bunge, Covantis has been officially established as a legal entity in Geneva after receiving all necessary regulatory approval. First tests are expected to be carried out in May 2020 According to a March 31 announcement, the company is the joint initiative of six founding members: Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Bunge, Cargill, COFCO, Louis Dreyfus Company and Glencore Agriculture. While Covantis’s legal entity has been established, the blockchain platform is …

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba announced its import e-commerce platform Koala has updated its products to include a full-link traceability blockchain system on March 16, according to a Sina Finance report from March 17. Blockchain increases logistic transparency The report revealed that the integration of Ant Financial’s blockchain in the Koala platform allows online buyers to find out the purchasing goods detailed logistic information through scanning a QR code with Alipay. The updated Koala application is designed to provide consumers with a traceable icon after completing the purchase on the order page. A blockchain QR code and an anti-counterfeit fingerprint sign …