HONG Kong-based Sea Master Logistics, a freight forwarding and logistics service provider, signals the start of its expansion in the world's third largest trading nation by opening its first Chinese mainland office in Shanghai yesterday.
Sea Master, a wholly owned subsidiary of US-based Summit Global Logistics Inc, an international supply chain management firm, will mainly deal with ocean freight forwarding for US importers which buy products made in China, according to the company at the opening ceremony of its Shanghai office yesterday.
"As a business center, Shanghai is the most important city for us to expand our business in China," said Robert Agresti, chief executive officer of Summit Global Logistics.
"We hope to open our own offices in cities where we have business operations through our agents by the end of this year."
Sea Master currently operates its business in China through third party agents in Shanghai, Ningbo, Qingdao, Dalian, Xiamen and Shenzhen, according to Agresti.
The company expects to move 75,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of exports from China's mainland to the United States in one year, he added.
In future the company will expand its business in China to air freight forwarding and other areas, he said.
The company also plans to boost its number of employees in China from 250, which includes its agent network, to about 300 to 400 in three years, Agresti said.
The company's existing clients include US apparel maker Jones Apparel and retailer Big Lots Stores.