UPS’ new air hub in Southern China’s Shenzhen is expected to be operational by mid-February making it the first international express company in China operating two large hubs on the mainland. In December 2008, UPS opened an international air hub in Shanghai Pudong International Airport targeted at direct service to US and European destinations. The new hub will see 14 round-trip cargo flights between nine countries and regions in its first stage, according to a report in the People’s Daily Online.

In China, international express firms have made gains in China since the sector fully opened in 2005. UPS, FedEx, DHL and TNT have witnessed annual growth of 50 per cent, accounting for 80 per cent of the international express market and 30 per cent of market share in the domestic express market, according to a 2009 report by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).