FedEx to reduce delivery time in 340 Chinese cities

FedEx Express, one of the world's largest express transportation companies, will upgrade its domestic express services on the Chinese mainland by reducing transit times by one business day between more than 340 city pairs nationwide.

"China has been the focus of FedEx strategic development," said Jimmy Chen, vice-president of FedEx China.

"We launched domestic services in China in 2007 and have been expanding our network and operational capacities ever since," he said.

To better address Chinese customers' demand for professional and customized logistics services, FedEx will shorten the transit time by one business day between more than 340 city pairs, launch professional logistics solutions for vertical industries, including the healthcare, high-value, and high-fashion industries.

It will offer Sunday pick-up and delivery services in 36 cities for targeted customers as well as same-day delivery service in Shanghai and Beijing for selected customers based on the existing services within the same city, according to Chen.

Statistics from China's State Post Bureau show that between January and April this year the accumulated business volume of the country's express service providers amounted to 8.14 billion pieces, with a year-on-year growth of 56.4 percent.

With the rapid development of China's healthcare market, it is estimated that the annual expenditure for healthcare services will be more than 5.6 trillion yuan ($896.7 billion) by 2019. The development of the industry needs corresponding logistics solutions to ensure that healthcare shipments, which require temperature control, can be delivered to customers quickly and safely.

"As a leader in the logistics industry with rich experience and resources, FedEx can provide customers from industries with customized logistics needs with the professional solutions they require," Chen said.