FedEx unveils major upgrade to Shenzhen facility to boost trade

FedEx Express, one of the global leaders in express transportation, unveiled crucial enhancements to its gateway facility in Shenzhen, China. The Aim is to promote efficiency in import operations and accelerate the development of cross-border trade in the populous southern China region.

This move features the expansion of the import warehouse equipped with sophisticated e-warehouse technology and additional sort belts. Consequently, the facility has seen its capacity amplified by 48% to over 4,500 square meters. According to the company, this enhancement doubles the sorting capacity of packages and documents and boots freight handling capabilities by a substantial 50%.

Robert Chu, Vice President, Operations, FedEx China spoke to the value of Shenzhen's role in the company's growth strategy, stating, "As a city that has pioneered cutting-edge economic and social innovations in China, Shenzhen has always been important to our development strategy." Chu further asserts that the recently expanded gateway will prompt "further optimisation of our customs clearance process in Shenzhen and southern China" and endow customers with an "efficient and smooth customs clearance experience," enhancing their competitiveness on the international stage.

Shenzhen, hailed as the first special economic zone of China, has consistently exhibited substantial expansion in international trade for 30 consecutive years. In the first two months of 2024 alone, Shenzhen achieved an astounding RMB 675.18 billion in import and export trade, marking a year-on-year growth of 45%. Additionally, Shenzhen has demonstrated impressive proficiency in cross-border e-commerce with an import and export volume of RMB 326.53 billion in 2023, representing a year-on-year increase of 74.4%.

2024 also marks the culmination of four decades of FedEx operations within China. The company initially entered the marketplace in 1984 and has continually bolstered its facilities and air-ground network to meet the ever-growing freight demand, thereby bolstering foreign trade in Shenzhen and southern China. FedEx was the first international express company to initiate cargo flights at Shenzhen Baoan International Airport and currently operates ten weekly international flights in Shenzhen, linking Asian and American markets.

Last July, FedEx significantly enhanced its export service in South China, especially for high-value shipments. This advancement reduced transit time of Category D shipments by at least one day for regional customers through the Shenzhen Gateway. To attain operational efficiency and reduce customs clearance times, FedEx will persist in exploring and investing in various innovative technologies and improving its facilities within Shenzhen.