Chapter 477 Shipping Pattern

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"I've noticed that the Ruby Mall has received a lot more customer complaints recently than before, what's going on?"

After the two of them sat down, Guo Shouyun asked directly.

"It's because we're not doing our job well. Recently, the company has developed rapidly, with a 21.8% year-on-year increase in registered users and a 47.4% year-on-year increase in transaction volume in the first quarter, resulting in a nearly doubling of the pressure on logistics, exceeding our logistics capacity, resulting in a certain backlog of goods, resulting in a delay in customer delivery time, which has led to an increase in the number of complaints. ”

"Why didn't you divert it to other transportation companies?" Guo Shouyun asked after nodding.

"The default on the contract documents in the Ruby Mall is our own logistics company. After signing the contract, there is no way to change it, so you can only do these things. In the event of a default, the losses caused will be even greater. ”

The commodities traded in Ruby Mall are all oil, natural gas, electricity, coal, timber, iron ore, copper ore and other bulk traded commodities, and a single default is a loss of millions of dollars.

"In terms of logistics and transportation, which one is the weakest?"

Despite our efforts to expand the size of our fleet, we are unable to cope with the rapidly growing volume of transactions. ”

"Didn't you just order 3 100,000-ton container ships and 12 15,000-ton ro-ro ships last year?"

"Yes! But shipyards in South Korea and Japan will not be able to deliver until the end of the year, and the Chinese shipyards will not be able to deliver until July this year at the earliest. Therefore, the 480,000-ton capacity is not available for the time being. ”

"Then let's rent! Meeting the needs of customers comes first. Guo Shouyun said after a moment of silence.

"We have 627,000 tonnes of chartered vessels in our capacity, accounting for 38.4% of Ruby Mall's ocean freight volume. If you rent it again, it will exceed the 40% lease ratio you have set. ”

For commodity trading companies with self-built logistics, it is rare to equate their own capacity with the actual transaction size of the company, because once the market falls, the spare capacity will cause huge losses in fixed asset idleness. Therefore, 50%~70% of the capacity is self-provided, and the rest of the capacity is leased, which is a good way to avoid losses.

As a reborn, although Guo Shouyun has not been involved in logistics, he is well aware of the Great Depression in the global shipping industry after the subprime mortgage crisis. It was a long decade-long depression.

The shipping depression that did not end until he was reborn made it difficult for giants like Maersk to bear, and Hanjin Shipping, one of the world's top 10 maritime giants that transport hundreds of millions of tons of goods every year, was forced to bankruptcy protection. South American Hamburg sells itself to save itself, Hapag-Lloyd huddles with Arab shipping to keep warm, and so on.

Because of this, although Ruby Mall's logistics business is developing rapidly, he has always been reluctant to let his fleet expand on a large scale, but to keep it at about 60%. In order to wait until the recession comes, the losses will not be too heavy.

Of course, Guo Shouyun also has an option to completely hand over the logistics to a third party. However, the core of e-commerce is logistics, and if you can't master this link, it is easy to lose credibility. Even for bulk commodities, there are counterfeit and shoddy products and uneven quality.

"It doesn't matter if it exceeds it temporarily, but the 40% lease ratio is the bottom line that we have adhered to for a long time, and emergency can be, but it can't become the norm!"

"Yes!" John Roberts nodded and continued, "Boss, our application to join the G6 Alliance has been returned!"

"What do they say?" Guo Shouyun frowned.

"Our size is not enough to meet the criteria for membership!"

At present, the fleet capacity of Ruby Mall has reached 2.798 million tons, and if calculated according to the international standard 20-foot container, the total capacity is equivalent to 160,000 TEU.

"The total capacity of our fleet is currently ranked 27th in the world, why is it not qualified?"

"They say that if we only count our own capacity, we only have 93,200 TEU. And their minimum accession criterion is 200,000 TEU!"

Guo Shouyun's brows furrowed even deeper, "Is this standard true, or is it only for us?"

"I don't know. However, the capacity of G6 members basically exceeds 200,000 TEU. But I think there must be an element of suppression in this, because the last thing vested interests want is a dynamic challenger like us. ”

Guo Shouyun nodded. Throughout the ages, in the absence of greater temptations, who wants to share the benefits in hand?

"Have the other three alliances asked?"

"Not yet, but we'll do it as soon as possible!"

There are four major alliances in the global shipping community, namely the G6 alliance composed of Hapag-Lloyd, NYK, OOCL, President Steamship, Hyundai Merchant Marine and Mitsui Merchant Lines, the CKYHE alliance formed by COSCO, Kawasaki Kisen, Yang Ming Shipping, Hanjin Shipping and Evergreen Shipping, the 2M alliance formed by Maersk Line and MSC, and the O3 alliance composed of CSCL, UAE and CMA CGM.

"Hurry up, otherwise we won't be able to reduce our spending on logistics. ”

"Yes!"

Guo Shouyun sighed in his heart. These shipping giants have firmly occupied the dominant position of ocean shipping by virtue of their combined advantages. Shipping companies that do not join these shipping alliances can only run regional routes. It's not that small shipping companies don't want to go to the ocean, it's that losses limit their willingness. For the same ten-ton cargo, from China to Europe, the alliance of large shipping companies can transport the goods to Europe through pooling, with less time and more economical prices. However, small companies do not have this advantage, they have limited customers and limited capacity, so it is naturally difficult to compete with large companies.

"Boss, what if we get rejected again...?"

"Then we will do it ourselves, even if it is a loss, we must develop logistics. Guo Shouyun gritted his teeth and said.

The core of e-commerce is logistics and supply chain, and he will keep Ruby Mall invested in both in any case. As for cooperating with shipping giants such as Maersk and CMA CGM, let them open up their data to themselves, and monitor the movement of goods in real time like Cainiao Network, or wait for the development of Ruby Mall. Otherwise, if you come to the door now, you will open your mouth and let people share the core data with you, but you are afraid that it is more likely to be bombed out.

"Understood!"

"How many things are there now?"

"One-year forward contracts for nine commodities, including oil, natural gas, coal, and copper, totaled $4.73 billion. The two-year forward contract was $3.32 billion, the three-year contract was $2.78 billion, the four-year contract was $2.1 billion and the five-year contract was $1.73 billion. We currently hold a total of $14.66 billion in forward contracts. ”

"In less than half a year, you can achieve the current results, which is really good, keep up the good work!"

"Yes!"

After asking the questions that should be asked and explaining the things that should be explained, Guo Shouyun let John Roberts leave.