Sydney, Australia – In keeping with the recent Lunar New Year festivities, a time to celebrate new opportunities and prosperity, Team Global Express, Australia’s largest multimodal logistics network, and SF Express, China’s leading integrated logistics service provider, have announced a strategic partnership designed to drive increased bilateral trade, improve market access, and deliver cost-of-living benefits for Australian consumers.
The partnership will enable customers to access integrated solutions that seamlessly combine Team Global Express’ multimodal network of rail, road, air and sea in Australia with SF Express’ technological capabilities and extensive aviation and road express network in China. Businesses and consumers alike stand to benefit from supply chain synergies that offer greater efficiency, reliability, and scalability. It will enhance cross-border trade opportunities, providing Australian businesses with faster, more efficient access to the world’s largest consumer market, while offering Australian consumers greater choice and value.
These benefits will be delivered through leveraging SF Express’ network as China’s largest operator of freight aviation, which includes 103 freighters (86 self-operated) and delivers over a third of China’s annual air cargo volume, complementing Team Global Express’ reach as Australia’s largest domestic airfreight network. With both operators specialising in expedited delivery speeds and seamless parcel tracing technology, this partnership leverages operational synergies.
This partnership comes at a pivotal time as trade between the two nations continues to grow. Australian goods to China account for approximately 30 per cent of total exports, while China’s booming e-commerce market is projected to reach AU$805 billion in cross-border B2C sales this year^1.
This partnership offers business greater access to China’s vast market, at the same time as leveraging the advantages from the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) to enable local exporters to increase their market share in China by benefiting from reduced tariffs on critical export sectors, such as wine, beef, and lithium. As the demand for high-quality Australian products grows across various categories, food and perishable goods in particular are poised to benefit from the faster and more efficient multimodal transportation solutions that this partnership offers.
Australian companies – especially SMEs – will now have more opportunities to engage with Chinese markets, driving innovation, creating jobs, and boosting overall economic growth. The partnership will also help Australian consumers by improving the speed, cost, and reliability of imported goods. With access to a broader range of products from China, Australian shoppers can expect increased competition, potentially leading to lower prices on everyday goods.
Team Global Express Group CEO Christine Holgate said the partnership will strengthen the Australia-China trade lane and create new delivery opportunities.
“Australian businesses are in a prime position to benefit from China’s growing demand for high-quality goods and services. This partnership not only strengthens our economic ties with China but also brings tangible benefits to Australian consumers through greater access to affordable and diverse products.”
“We are thrilled to partner with SF Express to enhance our international logistics capabilities and nurture the robust trading relationship between Australia and China. Our collaboration will enable us to provide more efficient services to our customers, while fostering economic growth through integrated import and export solutions to our nation’s largest bilateral trading partner.”
“By leveraging SF Express’ extensive infrastructure and expertise in China, we can better serve Australian businesses and consumers engaged in cross-border e-commerce. This partnership will streamline logistics and ensure our customers benefit from the fastest and most reliable trading lines available.”
SF Express Chief Strategy Officer Tina Wang said:
“Our strategic partnership with Team Global Express marks a significant milestone in expanding our reach to Australian consumers and businesses. Together, we can offer leading transit times and diversified logistics solutions to meet the evolving needs of businesses and the growing demand for speedy e-commerce.”
Simon Woods, CEO and Executive Director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, commented:
“Beyond the immediate economic benefits, this strategic partnership reinforces Australia’s position as a trusted trading partner in the Asia-Pacific region. The enhanced bilateral relationship is expected to foster deeper ties in technology, sustainability, and innovation – areas where both countries have substantial opportunities to collaborate and lead globally.
With trade between Australia and China expected to expand rapidly in the coming years, partnerships like the agreement announced today between Team Global Express and SF Express are significant in how they deepen economic relations. By fostering greater collaboration between businesses, easing logistics, and providing Australian consumers with more choices and competitive prices, agreements like this promise to help both countries thrive in a rapidly changing global economy.”
ENDS
^1 HSBC Global Research, "China E-commerce", DFAT / ABS 2023 trade data
