UPS Shanghai hub opens for business

China - UPS's US$125 million Shanghai hub, launched on Tuesday, is expected to improve access to China and speed up movement of express packages and heavy freight around the world.

"Everything about this facility was built for speed and reliability," said Dan Brutto, president of UPS International. "Linked now to our vast integrated transportation network, it opens wider the doors of commerce with China."

Sited in Shanghai Pudong International Airport in the Yangtze River Delta area, the cargo transit hub is fitted with 117 conveyor belts and 47 docking bays and has a package sorting capacity of 17,000 pieces an hour.

UPS said it collaborated with the Shanghai customs to deploy an industry-first customs risk management system at the facility. This allows UPS to feed customs with information ahead of time to identify high-risk items for inspection, expediting shipment clearance for delivery to recipients.

The facility also features the "Shipper Build Area" which allows customers to perform on-site packaging before goods are loaded onto the aircraft, as opposed to processing goods at a separate facility. This would shave off processing time, UPS said.

"China is UPS's top international priority," said Richard Loi, head of UPS China. "We have continued a steady path of expansion here and this latest facility stands as a strong testament to our long-term commitment."