International express transportation company FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., announced the enhancement of its International Priority (IP) to improve the transit time for exporters in South Africa.

The company says that providing a day-definite delivery service that combines speed and reliability allows customers to ship urgent and critical shipments. The enhancement also includes FedEx door-to-door and customs-cleared services. Shipments from South Africa to the US and major markets in Europe can now be delivered within two to three business days and shipments to major markets in Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, or AMEA, can be delivered within two to four business days.

FedEx notes that the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, or AfCFTA, member States have committed to lifting tariffs and barriers to trade and says this will boost intra-Africa trade and increase demand.  In turn, African businesses will require timely delivery solutions to meet the increasing and evolving demands of global markets.

“In response to the increasing demand from overseas consumers, businesses in Africa, including small and medium-sized enterprises, are diligently seeking more efficient methods to fulfill their requirements. With our unparalleled transit time improvements, we provide these businesses with expedited and dependable access to major global markets. This enhancement not only accelerates their supply chain operations but also fortifies their competitive advantage, allowing them to establish a dominant position in the global marketplace,” said FedEx Express Sub-Saharan Africa operations MD Natasha Parmanand.

FedEx says that the improvement to its IP service is part of the continuous efforts to optimise its portfolio of cross-border shipping services and to support businesses to tap into global markets. FedEx recently introduced its International Economy, or IE, service in South Africa, which delivers to major global destinations within four to five business days. This service provides differentiated solutions for less urgent shipments.