FedEx Express has announced it has strengthened its network and e-commerce capabilities in preparation for another busy holiday season in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region.
The e-commerce boom accelerated by COVID-19 is expected to continue. Global online spending is estimated to increase by 11% year-on-year to $910bn during the upcoming holiday season. In Asia Pacific, a region that accounts for more than 60% of online retail sales, online shopping has already picked up. For example, China’s biggest online shopping festival – Singles’ Day – is expected to spur further growth of online retail across the rest of the AMEA region. In Southeast Asia, about 40% of e-tailers said festive season sales represent the bulk of their annual sales. In the Middle East and Africa, 22% of consumers are ready to shop online during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
With the exponential growth of e-commerce, FedEx is expecting the 2021 peak season to meet or exceed the 2020 holiday season. Supply chain challenges, including ocean freight, are also adding to the demand for air cargo capacity as businesses replenish stock levels in time for the holiday season.
The company reported that in the AMEA region it has taken steps in response to forecasted holiday demand which include workforce additions, facility expansions, network optimization, and innovative e-commerce solutions to meet the needs of consumers.
The company reported the following changes:
FedEx Express AMEA region president Kawal Preet commented :“It’s never too early to plan ahead – shop early and ship early. This is especially true this upcoming holiday season with record-breaking shipping volumes on the horizon. In fact, nearly half (48%) of consumers worldwide plan to start their holiday shopping early this year, including 21% who had already started shopping in September”.
Source: FedEx