As trade grows, systemic bottlenecks are becoming increasingly evident throughout transport networks, warehousing, ports, and border gates, as well as industrial zones. Experts emphasize the importance of shifting from a piecemeal, project-by-project approach to a more strategic management approach centered around trade corridors and integrated supply chains.

In this model the state focuses on the development of institutions, regulations, strategic planning, and basic connectivity, and enterprises build integrated service capabilities.

Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director General of the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that growing production, market expansion, and international integration are pushing demand for logistics up. In import-export, logistics directly impacts the time of delivery of products, the performance of contracts, and the costs of products.

Hai stressed that as the import-export turnover continues to grow toward the 1-trillion-USD mark, the demand for logistics services will remain large, so logistics capacity needs to be upgraded accordingly.

This direction also fits the development of a modern multimodal logistics system linking seaports, border gates, airports, railroads, motorways, and industrial parks, as well as economic corridors. Logistics is therefore progressively viewed not only as a service sector but also as a factor for national competitiveness.

The Vietnam logistics sector costs are now estimated at 16-17% of GDP, higher than the target of 12-15% by 2035, indicating much room for improvement. But if you want to lower costs, you have to tackle structural bottlenecks, not just lower freight rates.

Thanh Hoa, the central province, is a case in point. It has a major seaport, the Nghi Son Economic Zone, roads, railroads, waterways, and Tho Xuan Airport, but more than 74% of its freight is still dependent on roads. There are no direct links to key ports and industrial parks by rail, and dedicated air cargo hubs are yet to emerge.

The vice chairman of the Thanh Hoa Stone Association, Tran Nhu Tuan, said policies and infrastructure should be built on the basis of actual transport needs. The province has advantages of seaports, waterways, and cargo sources, but without appropriate transport solutions, these cannot be translated into competitiveness.

Transport policy and infrastructure should be demand-driven, and the only measure of success should be the actual reduction in shipping costs and transit times.

At the sectoral level, Hai named inadequate synchronization and connectivity issues among transport modes, localities, and businesses as major roadblocks. Besides roads, Vietnam needs to build warehouses, logistics centers, inland container depots, and rail and waterway transport, as well as container-handling capacities.

They also need to shift from individual services to integrated solutions, using technology and getting more involved in supply chain management, he said.

It is well to be noted that digital transformation, data, and green logistics are becoming more competitive capabilities when considering global supply chain disruptions, he said. An official logistics data system will assist management agencies in detecting bottlenecks and sectors with high costs and allow businesses to better manage vehicles, warehouses, and orders as well as transport, he stressed.

Hai added that the ministry has issued a plan of action to carry out the Vietnam Logistics Services Development Strategy for 2025-2035, with a vision to 2050, and is collaborating with localities to evaluate conditions and determine priorities.

No single logistics model can be applied to all localities due to the differences in location, sources of cargo, and infrastructure. Therefore, ministries and sectors should improve inter-regional coordination, data sharing, and integrated planning while prioritizing major freight corridors, multimodal transport, and logistics centers connected with production areas, industrial parks, and seaports, as well as border gates.

In the final analysis, the effectiveness of policy should be judged by measurable improvements in cargo flows, including lower costs, faster delivery times, greater utilization of multimodal transport, and higher value preserved by Vietnamese businesses. The 1-trillion-USD trade milestone is therefore not only an indicator of trade magnitude but also an assessment of national logistics capacity.

Aptean has bought FleetGO from Main Capital Partners, a private equity firm that manages funds in Northwestern Europe and North America and focuses on investing in enterprise software businesses that are growing. It is well to be noted that the addition of FleetGO greatly expands Aptean’s transportation and fleet management capabilities, especially across the mainland. This acquisition will enable Aptean to serve its global customer base for better supply chain management and enterprise resource planning.

Founded in 2010, FleetGO has headquarters in Hattem, the Netherlands. It offers an AI-driven modular supply chain execution platform that integrates warehouse management – WMS and order-to-delivery process control with road logistics execution capabilities like transportation management – TMS, fleet operations, telematics, and compliance. This complete end-to-end suite allows fleet operators and logistics service providers to achieve significant cost reductions and better supply chain management with supply chain visibility throughout their organizations.

FleetGO’s AI-enabled, cloud-native platform can be customized along with its telematics services to meet the specific requirements of its customers. At present, the company has over 250 staff in nine offices across Europe.

FleetGO is a highly complementary feature of Aptean’s supply chain management product line, with a solid position in the European logistics software market and a broad range of transportation, fleet, warehouse, and telematics solutions, said TVN Reddy, CEO, Aptean. He adds, “The company’s customer-centric approach, cloud-based platform, and deep domain expertise align closely with Aptean’s strategy of delivering mission-critical, industry-specific software to our customers. We look forward to working with the FleetGO team to further strengthen our transportation management capabilities and support the company’s continued international growth.”

Mike McMahon, Vise President, Global Transportation and Logistics, The Home Depot, says that “Over the past years, FleetGO has transformed from a specialized telematics provider into a broad, integrated logistics software platform serving transport, fleet, and warehouse operations across Europe. Together with Main Capital Partners, we have significantly expanded our product capabilities, geographic reach, and organizational scale, while staying close to the needs of our customers. Joining Aptean marks an exciting next step for FleetGO, providing us with the resources and international platform to further accelerate innovation and continue supporting logistics companies in digitizing and optimizing their operations.”

The LinkedIn post touches on multiple subjects that may be of interest to investors, including the acceleration of autonomy through AI agents, robotics and autonomous vehicles, and the expansion of AI adoption across logistics operations. It also speaks of the growing interest in physical AI, especially the utilisation of cameras and visual AI at terminal gates, as well as large language models to improve logistics and asset management.

From an investor standpoint, the post suggests as part of its AI Adoption across logistics operations, Avathon is establishing itself in an ever-more AI-focused logistics ecosystem and is collaborating with terminal operating system providers and other players examining new technologies. This engagement may signal possibilities for Avathon when it comes to solution development, partnerships or advisory roles as AI-driven efficiency, automation and data visibility increase as factors in freight and supply chain markets.

Implementation-focused projects are gaining traction with industry peers and potential clients, with the prospect of deploying capital for AI projects, supporting demand for associated services and tools. The post does not mention specific commercial initiatives, revenue effects, or product launches but does mention that AI-enabled autonomy and physical AI are gaining focus areas that might influence Avathon’s strategic direction and competitive edge within the logistics technology space.

The heavyweight market has seen progress in recent years. Industry research estimates that 10.2 million tonnes of heavyweight shipments are being transported annually in Asia Pacific, which excludes China.

Companies have spent years trimming inventory and boosting productivity throughout their supply chains. But today’s companies are operating in a far more uncertain environment, with trade interruptions, manufacturing obstacles, and shifting demand. The rising volumes of heavyweight shipments are a reflection of how businesses are rethinking supply chain risk, with a growing number of them using express logistics not only to respond to sudden changes in demand but also to gain flexibility, assurance, and control over delivery times.

What the numbers don’t tell you is a simple fact – businesses are shipping a lot when timing is important and when it’s critical, said Asia Pacific CEO DHL Express, Ken Lee. Speed and reliability have also factored into the business decision as companies keep on dealing with an environment of complexity where ambiguity has become standard. Customers are making thoughtful choices about what they are putting through our network, he adds. He further says that our Heavy Weight Express solution ensures that companies minimize downtime, safeguard working capital, and keep operations moving when supply chains don’t quite go as planned.

Asia Pacific’s heavyweights top the charts in Technology, Engineering & Manufacturing and Automotive

Technology-related cargo, including computer chips and semiconductors, is the largest cargo type in the DHL Express heavyweight shipments throughout the region, accounting for more than 34%. The growth of this cargo type is fuelled by fast investment when it comes to data centers in order to support the increasing demand for computing capacity, data storage, cloud services as well as artificial intelligence. This has pushed up the demand for shipments of technology-related goods such as semiconductors and servers, as well as cooling systems along with electrical infrastructure. But a data center shortage is causing supply chain obstacles as demand for semiconductor manufacturing outstrips the supply of infrastructure. This means express logistics services are deployed rapidly to ensure the fast and efficient movement of critical components, thereby supporting the adherence to project timelines.

Automotive is the fastest-growing industry

The HWX service is also seeing good traction in the automotive segment, with shipment weight growing at almost 20%. Asia Pacific is the dominant export region for this industry and is also observing the rise of Asian automotive brands, especially EV makers from China and Southeast Asia. As these brands expand into new markets, they are also crossing borders with parts for vehicles from various suppliers and manufacturers. This has led to a demand for faster deliveries so production can keep going. In this business, one late or failed shipment could cost automotive manufacturers millions of dollars in a matter of seconds.

Asia reaffirms its role as a major trading hub

India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, and Hong Kong recorded the greatest growth in heavyweight shipments within Asia Pacific, excluding China, in the first 7 months of 2026.

These markets represent two of the region’s most powerful trade corridors – the strong status of Southeast Asia as a manufacturing and sourcing base, and also the strategic position of North Asia as a center for high-value technology and industrial along with automotive supply chains. India, the Philippines, and Vietnam are identified as major markets of the Geographic Tailwinds initiative.

Says Ken Lee, CEO for Asia Pacific, DHL Express, “As companies continue to manufacture out of Asia, balancing project timelines and building more resilient and agile supply chains become a priority. To maintain production continuity and ensure certainty, they are consolidating goods into heavier shipments. These non-negotiable conditions are also “urgency drivers” that put us at an advantage to help deliver our customers’ shipments at a definite time.”

Over the past few years, DHL Express has invested in a number of new infrastructures throughout the region, such as an expanded global hub located in Hong Kong, facilities near Manila and Cebu airports, a standard gateway at Christchurch airport, Hanoi gateway near Noi Bai airport, as well as Delhi gateway, totalling about 1,000 facilities in the Asia Pacific region. This is additionally backed by a strong aviation network of approximately 810 flights each day.

It is worth noting that frozen goods imported into Oman usually arrive in standard containers. Full frozen bulk vessel management calls for specialist cold chain skills at every stage, be it vessel offloading to temperature-controlled storage and subsequent distribution, ensuring unaltered temperature integrity right from the port to the warehouse.

The successful delivery of the first operation earned GWC Group a second larger commission – which apparently is the largest frozen bulk vessel operation the Group has ever handled to date. GWC Group went on to secure a long-term cold storage contract with the customer, evolving the partnership from vessel handling to continuous storage as well as regional distribution.

As part of boosting its cold chain supply capacity, the Group also commenced shipping frozen poultry products by road from Barka, Oman, to Qatar as well as Kuwait, thus taking overall volumes to over 1,000 truckloads of frozen cargo, being handled, preserved, and shipped throughout various GCC markets such as Qatar.

Matthew Kearns, GWC Group CEO, said that “This operation demonstrates what our regional network is designed to do. By connecting our capabilities in Oman with our established infrastructure in Qatar, we are creating additional routes for temperature-sensitive goods into the country while strengthening resilience across the wider supply chain. As we grow across the GCC, our operations are increasingly working as one network, connecting markets and strengthening the infrastructure behind regional cold chain flows.”

The fact is that the expansion of the Oman operation is indicative of the continuous development of the regional platform of the GWC Group and its function in linking logistics infrastructure and capabilities throughout the GCC markets.

Notably, over the last couple of years, GWC Group tripled its net revenue contributions from international operations by expanding its footprint in nations such as Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Bahrain.

The handling of frozen bulk cargo requires stringent and continuous temperature regulation right from receiving it at the port to storage and transportation across the borders, said the General Manager of GWC Oman operations, Haitham Al Rawahi. He further said that “our teams in Oman delivered this complex operation without compromise, supported by GWC Group’s specialized assets and technical expertise.”

GWC Group’s international cold chain capabilities are further reinforced by a comprehensive logistics network throughout the GCC as well as a global freight network operating in over 120 nations via over 550 partners spanning the world.

The Group manages over 4 million square meters of logistics infrastructure backed by more than 1,600 specialized vehicles and 20 strategic locations throughout the GCC, thereby moving over 2 million tonnes of freight every year.

The company is also opening a new hub at Clark Airport in the Philippines in Q4 2026, a new Canadian facility located at Barrie, Ontario, in 2027, and a new air hub at Hong Kong International Airport in 2028. The new facilities are part of the recent investments by UPS as far as healthcare and other strategic market sectors are concerned, which include the likes of high tech, automotive, and industrial manufacturing.

Customers want end-to-end logistics that align with their needs for transparency, speed, and ease, opines the UPS Executive Vice President and President of International, Healthcare, and Supply Chain Solutions, Kate Gutmann. She adds that “These investments allow us to bring air, ground, brokerage, and distribution together in one solution, with fewer handoffs, more end-to-end control, and less complexity. Combined with real-time tracking and proactive monitoring, we can handle even the most temperature-sensitive, time-critical, and high-value shipments … whether across town or around the world.”

It is well to be noted that UPS has one of the largest and most integrated logistics networks in the world and offers complete transparency across modes and supply chains. Recent investments to expand those capabilities include

• 27 temperature-controlled freight cross-docks designed for speed and short-term storage between air and ground movements, which are all designed for particular temperature demands.
• Advanced automation greatly increases processing speeds at a tech-enabled logistics center in Taiwan and the expanded air hub at Incheon in South Korea.
• UPS Supply Chain Solutions in Amsterdam is a one-stop shop for freight, brokering, and cold-chain solutions.
• Capacity and speed enhancements when it comes to future-ready intra-Asia air networks supported by robust demand from the region and high-growth sectors like healthcare, technology, industrial manufacturing, and automotive.
• Flights between Paris and Hong Kong and Shenzhen and Sydney 5 times a week in order to increase capacity and fulfill the growing demand.

Interestingly, it is investments like these that enable UPS to deliver even quicker and more reliable service for customers such as Anker, which is a global smart hardware technology company powered by ultimate innovation.

According to the Chief Supply Chain Officer at Anker, Adam Liu, “UPS didn’t just help us move products. They helped us navigate the challenges that came with growth by bringing transportation, brokerage, and trade expertise together. As we expanded our manufacturing footprint, we were dealing with new trade requirements, new markets, and a lot more complexity. UPS gave us confidence that we could keep moving forward while managing risk along the way.”

The global network of UPS is built to provide customers with uninterrupted visibility and control of their logistics, with services like

• The world-leader in complex healthcare logistics with end-to-end cold-chain capabilities ensures critical treatments are reliably and securely sent to patients all over the world.
• The fastest integrated ground network in Europe, serving all addresses on the continent, which includes Saturday delivery in eight dominant markets.
• One of the largest Asia-Pacific networks of IATA CEIV Pharma-certified specialized facilities when it comes to moving valuable, time-sensitive cargo with higher levels of trust, transparency, and monitoring.
• The only fully integrated carrier in Canada to provide automatic Saturday ground residential delivery as well as optional Saturday ground commercial delivery as a component of its range of services.
• Growth of the North American Air Freight – AAF capabilities – adding time-specific heavy air freight service to and from Mexico and expanding coverage throughout North America.

Whether expanding into new markets, restructuring supply chains, or seeking a more reliable service, UPS makes global supply chain solutions which includes cross-border shipments simpler to manage and less susceptible to interruptions, so customers can keep growing their business.

It is worth noting that Cambodia goes on to strengthen its trade infrastructure. The step is apparently visible with Phnom Penh Autonomous Port taking care of 600,000 TEUs and Sihanoukville Autonomous Port almost 1.3 million TEUs in 2025. Giving impetus to this growth is the new Cambodia Container Freight Station, which is strategically positioned nearby key transport gateways, which include the likes of both ports and Phnom Penh International Airport as well as cross-border road links to Thailand and also Vietnam, thereby helping cargo movements throughout the country and also supporting regional logistics.

According to the Managing Director of Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar, Kuehne+Nagel, David Roussiere, “This investment will more than triple our CFS capacity in Cambodia and strengthen our logistics capabilities in the country. With direct access to key transportation gateways and regional trade corridors, the facility will support customers in the consumer good industry as they navigate evolving supply chains and growing trade opportunities across the region.”

Made for cargo consolidation, and also along with taking care of operations, the new CFS is going to boast of a raised-floor warehouse, which comes with loading doors as well as dock levellers. It will provide a floor loading capacity of almost 5 tonnes per square metre and is most likely going to be certified as per ISO 9001, ISO 45001 as well as ISO 14001 standards.

The facility is also going to incorporate sustainability features such as skylight roofing, solar panels, LED lighting, water infiltration systems, forklifts that are battery operated, and also a rainwater management system.

Interestingly, the investment showcased the continued emphasis of Kuehne+Nagel in terms of making its logistics infrastructure throughout high-growth markets more robust and also assisting with the expansion of trade, both regionally as well as globally.

The new routing is anticipated to offer as much as one day quicker transit times for selected shipments from key Asian markets to Australia in as little as two business days. Operating 5 times weekly with Boeing 777 freighter aircraft, these markets include Southern Mainland China, Japan, Hong Kong SAR, South Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines, as well as Thailand.

Unleashing faster progress for Asian and Australian businesses 

Built to support Asian exporters, with non-stop freighter service, greater direct and reliable access into Australia will benefit Southeast Asia, North Asia as well as Greater China customers, supporting sectors dependent on time sensitive and high value deliveries. The new link will allow businesses throughout the region to –

• Increase supply chain effectiveness with better speed-to-market and lower inventory holding expenses.
• Enhance the ability to carry heavy-weight freight as well as high-value goods.
• Support B2B growth for time sensitive and high value sector.

According to president, Asia Pacific, FedEx, Salil Chari, “In today’s environment of shifting supply chains and rising customer expectations, competitive advantage is defined by the strength and reliability of our network. This enhancement reinforces the depth of our intra-Asia network, enabling customers to access key markets like Australia faster, operate with greater agility, and capture more growth opportunities with confidence. It also supports more resilient supply chains that underpin long-term, sustainable business growth.”

Driving the Intra-Asia Corridor’s Growth Pace

It is worth noting that intra-Asia trade reported double-digit growth in revenue year-on-year in 2025, and the region remains a key driver when it comes to global growth. As companies modify supply chains to be quicker, more regionally based, and more dependable, seamless air connectivity all over Asia is paramount. This foundation is further supported by the direct link of the company via the FedEx Guangzhou Hub, helping to facilitate high-velocity trade and demonstrating the role of Asia as a central engine of global trade.

Notably, the service is part of the ongoing investment by the company in improving connectivity, which includes exclusive nonstop Guangzhou-Penang cargo flights, extra weekly freighters between Guangzhou and Bangkok, and an improved outbound link from Hanoi to South Korea. These improvements will enable businesses throughout the region to gain advantages from increasing trade volumes and access new marketplaces.

The MoU offers a broad framework for collaboration between both parties to look into joint possibilities in the areas of standardised logistics services and supply chains as well as industrial sectors. It signifies the dedication of both parties to strengthening operational coordination, fostering industrial and logistics growth, and adding to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

It is worth noting that SPARK is an integrated industrial city in the Eastern Province with a logistics area and a dry port to link its industrial population to global and regional trade routes. The MoU with King Salman Energy City Dry Port combines the expertise of SAL in handling shipments and integrated logistics services with the advanced industrial as well as logistics ecosystem of SPARK to create shared value and contribute to the economic development goals of the Kingdom.

As per MoU with King Salman Energy City Dry Port, the two sides will collaborate to study possibilities for partnership in supply chain solutions, logistics services, and integrated services and explore fields of operational integration in order to promote industrial and logistics initiatives. The area of collaboration also includes an analysis of possibilities for the provision of storage and transportation services.

The MoU reiterates firm commitment by SAL to developing strategic alliances that enhance the integration among the logistics as well as industrial sectors in the Kingdom. It will additionally promote the growing importance of standard logistics services as a catalyst of industrial and commercial expansion, further strengthening the status of the Kingdom as an international hub for trade, transportation, and logistics under the aegis of Saudi Vision 2030.

The Thailand Board of Investment – BOI said in a statement on July 6, 2026, that the investment comprises the participation of manufacturers from China, South Korea, and Germany as well as Japan. The investment is divided across the supply chain.

It is well to be noted that as part of the $4.1bn in EV supply chain funding, 18 BEV projects are estimated to be worth $1.18 billion and will boost domestic yearly production capacity to over 370,000 units, including SAIC Motor, Chinese manufacturers BYD, Aion, Changan Auto, Omoda as well as Jaecoo in addition to Hyundai Mobility from South Korea and Germany’s Mercedes-Benz.

Hybrid vehicles, apparently, comprise $1.18 billion across 14 projects, relying on the legacy of Japanese automakers when it comes to hybrid technologies.

Batteries along with energy storage systems were granted $ billion throughout 57 projects so as to establish localized battery cell along with pack manufacturing. Key components like battery management systems and drive motors as well as power control units received $373 million when it comes to 49 projects.

The charging infrastructure was awarded $292 million for 42 projects that will support more than 22,900 charging stations across the country, including over 10,000 DC fast chargers of high speed.

Interestingly, in 2025, electric vehicles comprised over 40% of total new vehicle registrations in Thailand with HEVs accounting for the majority at 21.8% and BEVs coming in second place at 19.6%.

It is worth noting that Mercedes-Benz was the first to begin local production when it comes to luxury BEVs across Thailand in 2022, which was followed by a rush of Chinese competitors such as Great Wall Motor, BYD, SAIC Motor as well as Aion in 2024. Manufacturing by Changan Auto and EV Primus began in 2025, and Hyundai Mobility from South Korea and China’s Omoda and Jaecoo will ship in 2026. These investments in manufacturing resulted in over 16,000 local jobs.

The BOI has also facilitated 18 Sourcing Day events that matched over 800 Thai parts manufacturers with multinational automakers, resulting in over 1,200 business matches. These links may generate over $1.79 billion in domestic procurement value and turn traditional tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers into a high-tech EV supply chain, says the BOI.

The Secretary General of the Thailand Board of Investment, Narit Therdsteerasukdi, said that the strategy by Thailand to promote all propulsion technologies, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid as well as battery electric, enables established players and emerging competitors to invest and develop collaboratively.