DHL, the world's leading express and logistics company, today announced it has extended the availability of its popular Import Express service to 218 countries and territories around the world.

Import Express is a fast and reliable service that allows customers to import goods from overseas suppliers. The service was launched in Asia Pacific in 1995, and was introduced to China in 2000. Many customers have embraced the service because of its benefits in facilitating and simplifying import, ensuring safety and convenience. Recently, the number of customers using the service has steadily increased, driven largely by China's higher imports and customers' need for greater control over the cost, speed and reliability of their imports. Import Express has already become one of the fastest-growing business segments of DHL-Sinotrans.

Companies in the high technology, textile, and import and export industries form the majority of DHL's Import Express customers, and items imported include samples, return warranty parts, and discounted goods or components from suppliers.

"With Import Express, customers who pay for some of their freight costs within a non-integrated transport chain can now enjoy the simplicity and control of one point of contact, one fixed price, and one invoice for all their import requirements," said Scott Price, Chief Executive Officer, DHL Express Asia Pacific.

"Import Express underscores DHL's commitment to simplifying and improving supply chain efficiencies for our customers. As the leader in destination billed express delivery, we are confident that DHL's extensive international network aligned to the Import Express product offering will continue to offer strong competitive advantages for our customers," added Mr Price.

In 2004, DHL saw a 30% year-on-year growth for Import Express in Asia Pacific, which reflects the success of the service and highlights a significant increase in customer demand. This year, DHL has launched a series of marketing activities for Import Express in Asia Pacific. In China, such activities have been launched since March and will culminate by the end of June. The advertisements will highlight the various benefits of Import Express through the use of creative visuals.

The campaign aims to communicate DHL's commitment to making importing simple for its customers, by eliminating hassle and providing convenience, whilst enabling customers to have better cost control. This objective is reflected in a concise yet straightforward tagline - We Make Importing Simple - that will be integrated seamlessly in the TV, print, online, and direct mailers.

"The campaign highlights our commitment to innovative service solutions, emphasizing our efforts to meet customer demands through establishing new service benchmarks in the industry. With this campaign, DHL-Sinotrans will reinforce their leading position and continue to stay on top of the customer's mind, " said Wu Dongming, Managing Director of DHL-Sinotrans.