Panalpina boosts intra-Asia, adds 3 LCL services from Japan to Singapore

SWISS global forwarder Panalpina, has launched three new direct less than container load (LCL) services from Japan to Singapore in to boost business on key Asia trade lanes.

The new guaranteed weekly services from Kobe, Nagoya and Tokyo are operated by Panalpina's in-house carrier Pantainer Express Line and the new services into Singapore seamlessly connect Japan to Panalpina's global LCL network, the company said.

The new ocean freight consolidation services on Japan's south coast serve exports out of the three regions Kansai (Kobe as well as Osaka and Kyoto), Chubu (Nagoya) and Kanto (Tokyo including Yokohama and Kawasaki). In terms of TEU, Japan's exports are mostly driven by the automotive (26 per cent), chemicals (19 per cent) and manufacturing (18 per cent) industries.

The port of Nagoya has become one of the country's most important economic drivers. The headquarters of notable international corporations of the automotive, high tech, ceramic and construction industries are located here.

"With our improved, own operated service offering via Singapore, we can now offer our customers in Japan a seamless connection to our global LCL network. Access to end-to-end solutions and the global market, especially the main markets in Europe, the east coast of Latin America, Asia and Africa is greatly simplified," said ocean freight chief Frank Hercksen.

The additional LCL services are part of Panalpina's long-term strategy to grow business on key Asia trade lanes, especially on the Far East westbound, Transpacific eastbound, Intra-Asia, Asia to Latin America and Asia to Middle East trade. The majority of the more than 50 new LCL services launched in 2011 through Panalpina's in-house carrier Pantainer Express Line involved Asia. In September, Panalpina announced the launch of three new Singapore inbound LCL services from Haiphong (Vietnam), Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and Cebu (Philippines).