TNT's Asia Road Network expands into China

TNT announced the expansion of its Asia Road Network into China. TNT thus becomes the first integrator in Asia to operate an integrated road network linking over 120 cities in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indochina and China across 4,000 kilometres. The road network, which connects Singapore to Nanning, the capital city of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Guangzhou, the capital of the Guangdong Province, will become fully operational early 2008 after completion of the last trials. The Asia Road Network connects to TNT’s international express network in China. Linking it to TNT’s Chinese domestic network will be a next step. This move will eventually allow TNT’s customers to benefit from seamless road connections in the region.

Introduced at the end of 2005, TNT’s Asia Road Network connects Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and China through the north-eastern border of Vietnam. Boasting 24×7 real-time Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) tracking of TNT’s container trucks, TNT has seen double-digit growth in overall volumes since the launch in 2005. The growth is largely driven by customers moving high-value goods such as electronic, automotive and computing components. The road service is two to three times faster than sea freight and offers customers, significant savings of up to 30 per cent compared to air freight.

Marie-Christine Lombard, managing director of TNT Express, said:” We are happy to add China to our Asia Road Network. This is another milestone in our strategy to build and integrate express networks within and between selected emerging markets, which marks our strong commitment to grow in Asia. As we continue to enhance the intra-regional connectivity through our robust road network, the completion of the TNT Asia Road Network will strengthen our capabilities to support the growing intra-regional trade flows by offering customers a secure, time-definite and cost-effective delivery service to more cities in key emerging markets across Asia. China is an integral part of TNT’s global growth strategy because it is a very important market for many of our regional and global clients. TNT’s Asia Road network will be a strategic initiative to differentiate TNT in China and the rest of Asia.”