China approves three new foreign courier firms

China has permitted three new overseas courier firms to offer domestic delivery services, state news agency Xinhua said on Thursday, as part of government pledges to further open up the fast-growing market.
The State Post Bureau has approved Yamato (China) Transport Co Ltd, the China unit of Yamato Holdings Co Ltd, OCS Overseas Courier Service (Shanghai) Co Ltd and Kerry Logistics Co Ltd, Xinhua said.
The government said in September it would ease restrictions on foreign couriers seeking to deliver packages nationwide.
Express parcel delivery is booming in China, thanks to a surge in e-commerce. The Chinese market, however, is highly fragmented and competition is stiff.
There are currently more than 35,000 express delivery companies operating in the country. Some can ship packages for hundreds of miles as quickly as within the same day, and for as little as 2 yuan (32 US cents), compared to the U.S. Postal Service, which on average charges at least $10 for a domestic delivery.
FedEx Corp and United Parcel Service Inc already operate express parcel delivery services in China.

Source : http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/01/china-freight-idUSL3N0UG0U420150101

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DHL loose its Banglore city airport license for courier services

Top LOgistics Company DHL’s courier service licence for Bangalore’s Kempegowda International Airport has been suspended following confiscation of a consignment originating from Singapore that allegedly contained gold.

The company has approached the Karnataka High Court against the suspension.

“It is a fact that DHL’s license to operate as a courier service provider from Bangalore has been suspended,” said a source in the know of the development.

According to sources, customs officials at the airport confiscated a consignment ferried by DHL from Singapore to Bangalore as they found gold/gold items in a packet. When contacted, a DHL spokesperson said: “A suspicious consignment was intercepted by customs in Bangalore, which is being investigated.”

The company declined to comment on details such as to whom did the consignment belong and what was the value of the gold/gold items. “As the matter is sub-judice we cannot comment further,” the spokesperson said.

Under current regulations, precious metals, including gold and sliver, can’t be imported through courier-on-board mode.

“Our close working relationship with Customs authorities will help understand and address concerns raised regarding this shipment. We are fully co-operating with the Customs authorities to support the investigation,” the company spokesperson said.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/dhl-in-the-dock-over-smuggling-of-gold-at-city-airport-114032000924_1.html

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