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American logistics provider UPS has launched a new full container load (FCL) rail service connecting Europe and Hong Kong using its existing framework.
The two-way service between Duisburg, Germany and Hong Kong will offer transit times up to 30% faster than FCL ocean freight, and cost savings of up to 60% compared to air freight.
Mike Harrell, president of freight forwarding at UPS Europe, said: “Hong Kong is an important trading partner for the EU, with approximately €50bn (US$58.5bn) in goods traded last year.”
The service will pack goods directly into containers, eliminating the need for transloading, and also provides seal management, alarms, and optional GPS container tracking to monitor the location, temperature, humidity, light and movement of cargo.
The company’s systems are electronically linked to customs authorities, which UPS said helps to speed up clearance processes.
Additionally, the UPS Flex Global View tool provides end-to-end visibility of cargo to customers.