Developing the international express business

The global express market remains on track for growth, with continuing increases in transported quantities and average weights. Double-digit growth rates are expected to persist in Asia and the emerging markets. The international CEP market in Europe is also likely to expand, at an average annual rate of 5% to 7%. In the United States, we expect ground-based shipments to increase at the expense of air-based shipments.

At Leipzig/Halle airport, the new European hub will become fully operational in 2008. This is also where we are establishing the new joint venture with Lufthansa Cargo, which is to assume control of the flight connections between Europe, the Middle East and Asia in spring 2009. By way of our partnership with Polar Air Cargo, we will be able to offer our customers additional flights on the trans-Pacific routes.

In Asia, plans for the new north Asia hub in Shanghai are entering the next phase. Completion is scheduled for 2010. Elsewhere, the construction project in Incheon, South Korea, will increase our capacities in the short term as well as further improve the region’s links with the international trade lanes to Europe and the USA. In North America, we are planning to develop our air and ground-based shipments between the United States, Canada and Mexico and thus enhance the networking of our infrastructure in the NAFTA region.

We will complete the restructuring of our time-definite products in the regional markets and increase supply to meet demand. Offering day-definite shipments in the intercontinental arena also forms part of our plans, with a view to satisfying the growing demand for cost-effective products and services. As regards sales activities, we intend to focus our organisation and programmes more sharply on the global trade lanes.