Regional express and parcel companies in Asia are expanding their services and infrastructure tostep up competition with the “big four” global integrators.
In Malaysia, Nationwide Express has launched four retail stores in shopping malls in Malaccaand Klang Valley, the Business Times newspaper reported. The company is also planning to grow itsnetwork regionally via mergers and acquisitions, and wants to boost its fleet from the present 200trucks over the next two to three years.
Local rival ABX Express, part of the GDA global network, will spend RM 3.8mn (EUR 0.8million) on 45 new vans and trucks to boost its fleet to some 200 vehicles, The Star newspaperreported. The company, with 66 express centres, will increase warehouse capacity to be able tohandle larger packages and is targeting turnover of up to RM 50 million this year.
In Indonesia, express and freight transport company RPX, the local FedEx partner, is planningto increase its network of service and sales centres from the present 307 outlets to 450 in the2008/09 fiscal year by cooperating with retailers, the Jakarta Post reported. RPX, which operateswith two B737 freighters and more than 280 vehicles, launched a SMS pick-up service in January.
In Japan, Japan Post Service has linked up with freight logistics group Sankyu and willlaunch a new air cargo joint venture in July. Sankyu will merge its international air cargoactivities, with revenues of about $89 million, into the company. Japan Post Service will own 60%and Sankyu 40% in the venture which will use Sankyu’s international network and the domesticnetwork of Japan Post Service.
Meanwhile, Japanese parcels company Yamato is offering a new International Takkyubin expressparcels delivery service to Taiwan in cooperation with its local partner President Transnet, theChina Times reported. Goods are delivered within 2-4 days at rates about 10-15% less than offeredby international express operators, it said.
