TNT Express Worldwide, a unit of TNT Post Group, has gained a strong foothold in the mainland's express distribution market through its partnership with China Post, which came into effect on January 1.
China Post, which had access to more than 70 countries through its postal services before the partnership, has boosted the number of countries it serves to more than 200 through TNT's network.
'It is a two-way partnership,' said TNT Express Worldwide (HK) managing director Bryan Chan.
China Post, which signed the partnership with TNT last year, will enable TNT to carry out express distribution on the mainland. Through product differentiation and selection of transportation mode, TNT has been able to speed up China Post's express service between the mainland and Europe from five to six days previously to two to three days.
Mr Chan said there had been a 20 to 40 per cent improvement in the speed and efficiency of the system after TNT became involved. The company's long-term Asian strategy was to capture the No 1 position in moving express products in the domestic mainland market. In addition, TNT wanted to retain its pick-up and delivery business in the intra-Asia express market, which included Japan and pan-Asia. TNT recently concluded an arrangement with Japanese air forwarder KintetsuWorld Express to handle express cargo between Japan and Europe.
'We want to establish a stronger presence in Indonesia and Malaysia, too,' Mr Chan said.