UPS expands in Middle East and Africa

UPS has expanded its UPS Worldwide Express service, part of UPS’s international suite of shipping services that guarantees time- and day-definite delivery for urgent shippers, to 14 new countries in the Middle East and Africa.

The expansion also includes later pick-up times, improved time-in-transit and Saturday delivery in seven countries in ISMEA, demonstrating the company’s strategic focus on international high-growth markets.
“We’re excited to announce that customers can now choose UPS to better compete globally with the time-definite services competitive businesses need,” said Nando Cesarone, president, UPS International. “By improving time-in-transit and increasing the number of countries served, our customers have more time-of-day delivery options to better meet their customers’ critical needs.”

The guaranteed time- and day-definite delivery improvements include South and Central America, including Panama where customers can benefit from the Colón Free Trade Zone, plus Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa by GDP and population.

UPS also grew its express services footprint within key markets by adding new postal codes in 26 European countries, as well as in other high-growth markets such as South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Singapore, all of which have exceeded annual per capita GDP growth of 3.5% for the last 50 years.

UPS customers can take advantage of robust customs brokerage services in these newly expanded areas. As one of the world’s largest customs brokers, UPS helps customers navigate changing regulations, maintain compliance and keep shipments moving smoothly through customs and across borders.

“In addition to expanding its service area, UPS improved time in transit to 24 countries, primarily emerging markets, thereby increasing customers’ speed to market,” said Jean-Francois Condamine, UPS president of Growth and Emerging Markets. “This includes India, where UPS recently announced an investment to consolidate and strengthen its position by attaining full ownership in its express services in one of the world’s fastest growing economies.”

UPS also added Saturday delivery in seven ISMEA countries, later pick-up times in 22 European countries, and later cut-off times in five countries in Asia.

Later pick-up times and cut-off times provide businesses benefits such as more time to focus on production and order fulfilment.

For customers with urgent freight needs, UPS Worldwide Express Freight Midday now offers time-definite delivery of international palletized shipments to over 39,000 new postal codes in Europe.

The additional postal code increases the footprint of this guaranteed service by five times, enabling shipments to over 35 countries and territories and the ability to receive packages from over 70 countries and territories.

“UPS wants to give its customers more options to deliver faster, earlier, on the weekend, and with later pick-up and cut-off times,” said Cesarone. “We provide importer and exporters with greater flexibility and guaranteed services to fit their time-sensitive needs around the world.”