US logistics provider YRC Logistics is to place more emphasis on sales and technology integration in China.

The company's aim is to offer clients better services on a regional basis in Asia, said Eric Friedlander, managing director of YRC Logistics Asia, a unit of YRC Worldwide.

YRC Logistics bought a 50-percent stake in JHJ International Transport Co in 2005, acquired Shanghai Jiayu Logistics Co last year and, outside China, opened 10 offices around Asia.

YRC acquired a 65-percent stake of Jiayu, a transport firm with 30,000 customers and 3,000 vehicles, for between US$29.5 million to US$43 million. The company expects to buy the remaining 35 percent in 2010 for an amount not to exceed US$32 million.

"We are providing an excellent platform for multinational customers with end-to-end visibility both within China and shipments outside China," said Friedlander. "We developed Roadview, an end-to-end supply chain visibility tool and used the system in many locations including Shanghai, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and India," he said.

Friedlander said the company may start moving to western China because of the importance of trade between Sichuan and Vietnam.

(Shanghai Daily July 3, 2008)