UPS expands networks in North America, extends freight services to Myanmar

UPS has been expanding its operational networks in North America, and has launched freight forwarding services in Myanmar. The company said it is opening three operation centres in British Columbia, Canada, as well as expanding a fourth.

In Mexico, the firm is opening six new UPS Express centres across the country.

Canada

The Canadian expansion represents a multi-million dollar investment that should be completed by November 2014, adding 36,000 square feet of operational space to the network, as well as creating 80 jobs.

New operation centres are planned for Kamloops, Nanaimo and Comox, with the Kelowna facility being expanded.

UPS said it began direct pickup and delivery services this week for customers in the Kamloops area of south-east British Columbia, rather than through a local agent.

“Expanding our service in BC and across Canada is fueled by market opportunity and customer demand,” said UPS Canada President Michael Tierney. “UPS continues to invest in new capabilities and network capacity to secure customers’ confidence and enable their long-term growth.”

UPS has been operating in Canada since 1975, and in recent years has been expanding its network in Toronto, Calgary and eight cities across the Atlantic Canada region. The company runs a fleet of 2,600 vehicles in Canada, with a work force of 11,500 employees.

Mexico

In Mexico, UPS said it has opened new UPS Express centres in locations across the country, including three in Mexico City, and others in the State of México, Jalisco and Quintana Roo.

The new facilities bring the company’s network of UPS Express centres to 20, and the number of access points in the country to 390.

UPS said the expansion will extend its shipping services to more customers across Mexico.

“The addition of these new UPS Express centers demonstrates our ongoing commitment to continue providing more solutions for our customers, offering them more options to conduct their business through our comprehensive network,” said David Hopkins, UPS Mexico marketing director.

Myanmar

Meanwhile, UPS said this week that it has extended its freight forwarding services to the south-east Asian country of Myanmar for the first time.

It will mean global customers can now trade with the emerging market using UPS supply chain technologies and services including UPS Air Freight Direct, UPS Air Freight Consolidated, Full Container Load and Less-than-container-load services.

The move has come following the economic transformation in Myanmar, and UPS said that as the nation’s businesses begin to integrate with global supply chains the demand for freight services should “skyrocket”.

UPS said IMF forecasts suggest the country has a growth potential of 8.5% in the 2014 to 2015 fiscal year.

“UPS works closely with our customers and they have expressed a need for reliable freight services from Myanmar that will connect them to markets worldwide,” said Mary Yeo, vice president of Supply Chain Operations, UPS South Asia District. “Businesses in Myanmar can tap into UPS’s global logistics expertise, extensive network and technologies while relying on our air freight and ocean freight services.”