FedEx Express opens four stations in Spain

FedEx Express is opening three new stations in the Basque region of northern Spain, and one in Alicante on the south-east coast, as part of its next phase of European expansion.

The company said the move marks a “new chapter” in the expansion of its Spanish network. Around 32 jobs will be created with the additional stations.

FedEx said the Basque country was one of the fastest growing areas of Spain for business activity, with 158,000 businesses located in and around Bilbao, Vitoria and San Sebastian, where the new stations are located.

The Basque region also has the highest GDP per capita – of EUR 30,819 – the firm said, with businesses representing sectors including the automotive, high tech and heavy industry sector.

FedEx sees demand in the reliance local businesses have on export markets, since the Spanish economy is recovering slowly. Exports from the Basque region reached EUR 13.8bn last year, 5.4% more than in the previous year.

In Alicante, where 12 of the new jobs will be based, more than 129,000 businesses are located in the area, particularly in the textile, shoe, marble and toy manufacturing industries. Exports from the area were valued at about EUR 3bn in the first eight months of 2013.

The new stations in the Basque region and Alicante come as part of a Europe-wide expansion programme for FedEx in the last two years that has seen more than 90 new stations opened.

The network expansion means that customers in these areas will be able to ship to 90% of the world’s businesses in one or two days.

“Expertise”

Ian Silverton, senior manager, Operations, FedEx Express Spain, said his company would offer its expertise locally to help more Spanish businesses grow their exports.

“Now we are even better placed to give our customers the local expertise they need to go grow their businesses globally,” he said.

Silverton said both the Basque region and Alicante had strong centres of industry, with growth that attracted FedEx to locate there.

He said: “The Basque business community has made a name for itself for driving research and innovation, creating a thriving business community with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Alicante is known for its strong industrial research and development which has fostered a strong entrepreneurial spirit.”

FedEx Express began serving Spain in 1989 and now employs 445 people in the country, with its local HQ based in Madrid and its gateway at Madrid’s Barajas Airport, which links in with its main European hub at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.