FedEx subsidiary FedEx Trade Networks, the company’s global trade arm, recently announced it has rolled out its FedEx International Direct Priority Ocean service in India.
Introduced in July 2011 as part of FedEx Trade Networks’ Ocean Choices portfolio, this service is comprised of reliable ocean delivery services for less-than-container load (LCL) and full-container-load (FCL) cargo. With this service, cargo is shipped from the origin to North America, with final delivery available throughout the contiguous United States and it includes premier ocean freight forwarding, U.S. customs brokerage, online visibility and reliable delivery for both less-than-container-load and full-container-load cargo, said FedEx.
FedEx said this service is now available to shippers from Banglagore, Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai, adding that bringing these locations into the fold extends the reach of this service and offers shippers that export to the U.S. with more freight forwarding services.
A FedEx spokesman told LM that there is strong demand for solutions like FedEx International Direct Priority Ocean, particularly in emerging markets like India.
“Ocean freight in India showed growth of more than 12% last year, and is expected to grow at a CAGR (compounded annual growth rate) of 14.90 % by 2016,” he said. “This launch makes us the only company offering this type of service between India and the United States, and is an integral part of our growth strategy to provide customers around the globe access to premier FedEx freight forwarding services.”
In terms of shipper benefits, the spokesperson explained that customers can enjoy better control of the supply chain with dependable predictability of final delivery, while receiving an individual point of contact, a single rate and a single invoice. And the expedited ocean service provides final delivery for LCL (less-than-container load) shipments provided by FedEx Freight Priority (a less-than-truckload service offering fast-transit choice for reliable, time-sensitive LTL freight delivery), which he said has the fastest published transit times of any nationwide LTL service.
Along with the new FedEx International Direct Priority Ocean service in India, FedEx said it has opened freight forwarding operations in Bangalore, which provides shippers with international air and ocean freight forwarding services, surface transportation, customs brokerage, and documentation. This is the company’s fourth India-based FedEx Trade Networks office.