Cainiao Network, the logistics arm of Alibaba Group Holding Limited, has announced its partnership with Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport (“Shenzhen Airport”) to establish an air cargo center, with plans to launch more international cargo routes originating from Shenzhen. The new flights are launched in partnership with Atlas Air and will operate twice a week, with a loading capacity of over 220 tons per flight. Atlas Air will provide cross-border cargo transportation services for product categories ranging from electronics to automobiles.
The inaugural chartered flight connecting Shenzhen, China to São Paulo, Brazil was officially launched last weekend at a signing ceremony attended by representatives from the Brazilian government, Shenzhen Airport, Atlas Air and Cainiao Network.
The air cargo center is established to support growing cross-border eCommerce parcel volume from China to Latin America. The facility will play a key role in streamlining and optimizing parcel sorting and customs clearance processes for import and export goods at the airport. It will also leverage Cainiao’s smart logistics capabilities, with solutions and equipment such as Cainiao’s proprietary hand-held device – LEMO PDA, digital customs clearance system and warehouse management system (WMS).
Goods shipped via air from Shenzhen and the Southern China region can enter the airport directly for loading onto cargo planes. Transit goods can also be seamlessly transferred to other ports and airports via the air cargo center. Going forward, the air cargo center will deliver a 20 to 30 percent increase in parcel processing efficiency and the ability to conduct 24/7 around-the-clock operations during peak seasons.
“This collaboration between Cainiao and Shenzhen Airport represents a significant milestone as we establish air cargo centers in key international airports to integrate our smart logistics technologies and global network within the value chain. By tapping onto Cainiao’s extensive overseas logistics infrastructure and network, we will further optimize the cross-border logistics value chain in Shenzhen and more broadly in the South China region. Merchants will in turn benefit from more easily accessible cross-border shipping services when they sell globally,” said Dr Ding Hongwei, Vice President of Cainiao Network.
“We are pleased to announce the launch of new international cargo routes with Cainiao,” said John Dietrich, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Air Worldwide. “Through deepened cooperation with Cainiao, we will be able to better serve Chinese brands as they export to the rest of the world.”
According to data, Latin America’s bilateral trade in goods with China grew 21.5 times from 2001 to 2020, from US$ 14.6 billion to US$ 315 billion1. China has since become the most important export market for South America and the second-largest trading partner for Latin America.
This news comes after Cainiao’s recent announcement to share its three-year development roadmap for Brazil, with plans to launch nine sorting centers in seven states and 1,000 smart lockers across ten key Brazilian cities to support local-to-local and cross-border deliveries, local express and food deliveries.
