UPS has expanded its Worldwide Express package service to reach 124 countries and territories, providing an earlier delivery option for customers to more locations.
UPS now reaches more countries and territories with express midday than any other carrier, said the company in a statement.
The UPS Worldwide Express service offers guaranteed delivery in 1-3 business days by 10:30 a.m., noon, or 2 p.m., depending on the destination. In 2017, UPS Express service was added to 7,000 new postal codes in 57 countries and territories.
Jim Barber, UPS international president, commented: “Our international value proposition is to offer a powerful global network and portfolio that connects buyers and sellers through seamless cross-border movements. With the latest expansion of UPS Worldwide Express services, we are the industry leader in making this connection in 124 countries and territories, which comprise nearly 96% of the global gross domestic product, and 93% of real imports.”
According to the logistics provider, companies choose UPS Express service for time-sensitive global shipments. Businesses with products that have a short shelf life, such as those in the healthcare industry, benefit from the speed and reliability of this service. Businesses in the fast-paced high-tech and retail industries also benefit by gaining more control and flexibility over their supply chain.
Mohammed Kamal, Middle East country manager, UPS, remarked: A smart global logistics network is key to the markets in the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa (ISMEA) region that continue to focus on building stronger infrastructures and adopting business-friendly policies in efforts to foster further growth. UPS Worldwide Express service is well suited for businesses seeking growth opportunities in the Gulf countries e-commerce market which is expected to jump to AED73.4bn ($20bn) by 2020.
World Trade Organization economists predict continued trade growth in 2018 after stronger-than-expected growth in 2017. The UPS Worldwide Express service offerings help facilitate this growth by giving customers more time of day delivery options for important deliveries.
In 2017, imports to India grew by 21% to nearly $42bn compared to 2016. That growth comes from multiple industries including electronics and industrial machinery. Businesses that are part of these rapidly growing industries can use the newly expanded express service to receive orders earlier than before.
In the Asia Pacific region, South Korea is one of 14 countries included in the expansion of UPS Express service.
As South Korea continues to lead the way in the auto electronics market, the UPS Express expansion will afford automotive aftermarket manufacturers and distributors located in major industrial areas a competitive edge by connecting them more quickly to other partners across the supply chain.
Customers in Europe will benefit from faster shipping time to growth economies in Asia and Latin America. UPS is committed to investing $2bn in its European network by 2019, and this investment has already made UPS faster on more than 350 city pairs between 27 European countries.
UPS Worldwide Express service is part of the broader UPS Express portfolio, which offers the most international guaranteed time-of-day delivery options that include routine customs clearance.