TNT launches a large marketing campaign this week designed to support export shipments of parcels and freight to the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. The initiative is aimed at helping SMEs grow and export in Europe’s most important trade region and economic engine.

As of this week, TNT offers new customers a temporary 20 per cent discount off rate card for all export shipments of up to 250kg to one of these nine countries. The promotion takes effect on 9 February for a period of three months. It applies to day-definite delivery services by air and road. TNT’s existing customers, too, can benefit from the price reduction if they book a shipment to a new export destination within the “Blue Banana”.

The “Blue Banana” campaign, named after an expression used to describe Europe’s densest business region stretching from England to Italy, aims to drive TNT’s sales in Europe’s largest express markets. According to Eurostat, more than 70 per cent of intra-European exports of goods are destined to the countries composing the “Blue Banana.”

“TNT’s initiative will encourage European SMEs to look beyond their domestic markets. Exporting to Europe, and particularly to the ‘Blue Banana’ countries, has become one step easier with TNT,” said Ian Clough, managing director TNT International Europe.