DB Schenker Logistics in China - The global logistics powerhouse

With annual sales of 18 billion euros ($28 billion), more than 88,000 employees and over 1,500 company locations in all the important economic regions of the globe, DB Schenker is the transport and logistics arm of Deutsche Bahn - Germany's national railway.

Through DB Schenker, Deutsche Bahn AG has top positions in air and ocean freight worldwide, operates the most concentrated land transport network in Europe and benefits from the rail competence of the first and biggest European freight railroad.

"One of the great and unique qualities of DB Schenker is that it offers a full portfolio of services, globally but also in China," said Andrew Jillings, CEO of Schenker in China.

As well as an integrated logistics provider by air, ocean and land, it also has an array of services tailored to the needs of customers. Those include household moving, business and leisure travel, fairs and exhibition services and wine importation.

DB Schenkerglobalsportsevents team, the official freight forwarding and customs clearance exclusive provider of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, is now at peak operation in the lead up to the big event.

Schenker came to China in 1966 with its first office in Hong Kong. In the late 1970s the company established operations on the mainland as one of the first international forwarders. The organization has since grown to a network of around 60 facilities in over 30 key cities and a workforce of more than 4,500 specialists.

"Today, Schenker China plays an important role in linking the world's major markets in Asia, the Americas and Europe. With our service portfolio and dense domestic networks in those markets, we provide great advantages for distribution and procurement to our customers," said Jillings.

Schenker is also investing its ground freight operations in China. On January 24 after a journey of 15 days, a freight train from Beijing with a cargo that included electronic equipment, clothing and shoes, reached Hamburg amid much fanfare. The train covered 10,000 km through six countries - China, Mongolia, Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany.

Rail freight using this so-called Eurasian land bridge takes roughly half the time of ocean freight and is cheaper than air cargo. A second freight train is awaiting the same journey. The aim is to soon operate a scheduled service.

Schenker has also been establishing a ground transportation network in China, one of the few international companies to do so. Its trucking network now includes Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Xiamen and Chengdu. Domestic trucking is a key part of Schenker's China's strategy.

Following the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the company will focus on the World Expo in Shanghai in 2010. Schenker China Ltd was chosen as recommended logistics service supplier by the Shanghai World Expo bureau last September.

At this year's Transport Logistic China trade show in Shanghai, Schenker will be present with a sizeable stand to introduce the company's service portfolio.

The major focus will be on its range of services, but it will also present new solutions such as RFID and intermodal freight forwarding services to its visitors.

Schenker is meeting customers and visitors at booth E2-103/204.

(China Daily 06/16/2008 page17)