Japan Post yesterday (October 5) expanded its U-Global Express (UGX) international delivery service to US destinations in cooperation with FedEx Express.
Under their collaboration, Japan Post will take care of pickups from customers in Japan shipping to the US while FedEx will provide International Economy (IE) services and handle customs clearance and delivery to final destinations in the US.
The new service combines the strengths of both companies – the operational strength of FedEx with its extensive global and U.S. domestic delivery networks and customs clearance experience, and the domestic network of Japan Post. Together, FedEx and Japan Post will offer a reliable international delivery service to customers in Japan and the U.S.
“We believe the new service responds to the more flexible services required by retailers and e-commerce businesses,” said Masamichi Ujiie, regional vice president, North Pacific, FedEx Express. “We are delighted to work with Japan Post to increase delivery options for e-commerce retailers and small- and medium-size enterprises in Japan with a desire to grow their business globally.”
The announcement follows FedEx’s appeal to postal operators last week to consider commercial partnerships with the US company in order to provide end-to-end supply chain solutions for e-commerce retailers.
Carl Asmus, Vice President Supply Chain Solutions for FedEx Services, told the World Postal Business Forum at Post-Expo in Paris that such agreements could help postal operators to “move up and down the value chain” and avoid “commoditisation of transportation”.
The US integrator already has long-standing partnerships with the US Postal Service, Canada Post, Royal Mail’s Parcelforce Worldwide and Taiwan’s postal service, as well as the new agreement with Japan Post.
