UPS invests in Chinese shipping, delivery operations

UPS is enhancing services in 20 cities across China to provide greater, faster service coverage for Chinese exports, the parcel carrier announced Tuesday.    UPS has increased its investment in the Chinese market through enhanced services in 20 Chinese cities, the parcel carrier announced Tuesday.
   The Chinese government has projected it s exports to reach a value of $2.5 trillion in 2018 and is thus “seeking to increase the country’s connectedness with regional and global economies through a range of major initiatives,” said UPS.
   UPS agreed to assist customers in Xi’an, Fuzhou, Hefei, Wuhan, Shenyang, Zhengzhou, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Suzhou, Kunshan, Hangzhou, Qingdao, Ningbo, Xiamen, Wuxi, Chengdu, Foshan, Changzhou, Huizhou, Nanjing, and the surrounding areas of these 20 cities, in several major areas of the e-commerce and parcel shipping and delivery process.
   UPS plans to extend package pick-up cut-off times by up to 1.5 hours, or as late as 10:00 PM, to give exporters more production time and greater flexibility to finalize orders. The company will also provide faster transit times by up to one full day from China to “key markets” in the US, Europe and Asia, with most US and intra-Asia shipments now able to reach their destinations within 24 hours, it stated. The investments will provide convenient access to the UPS network in 33 Chinese cities via its Same Day Pick Up, Customs Brokerage and Warehouse Management Solutions services.
   “China has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to furthering sustainable globalization and economic development, as evidenced by its proactive moves around the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Made in China 2025 plan, and free trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP),” said Ross McCullough, president of UPS Asia Pacific. “As the lifeblood of trade, logistics is going to play a key role in the long-term success and implementation of these initiatives. UPS’s investments in China are a direct response to this need.”
   In sum, the UPS investments are part of the company’s multi-year growth plan for operations in the high-tech, manufacturing and retail segments.
   “At UPS, our business strategy has always been driven by anticipated shifts in the global and local economies, so it is imperative that we put logistics solutions in place ahead of demand so they are ready when businesses need them,” said Harld Peters, the newly appointed president of UPS China. “As industries continue to grow and move toward complex manufacturing, we are determined to provide faster and more efficient solutions for businesses of all shapes and sizes.”
   Earlier this year, UPS and S.F. Holding announced a joint venture to provide international delivery services initially from China to the US, which was recently approved by the Chines Ministry of Commerce.