Birkart Globistics Strengthens Presence in China

Birkart Globistics Strengthens Presence in China

August 27, 2007

    HONG KONG, Aug. 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The logistics
service provider Birkart Globistics air + ocean continues to
expand its extensive branch network in China.  The company,
whose services are bundled in the Air & Ocean division
of Thiel Logistik AG, is opening a new location in Tianjin
in mid-August.  The Guangzhou branch was already expanded
in July.  Birkart Globistics now has 20 of its own
locations in China and a total of 89 worldwide.  

    The new Birkart branch in Tianjin goes into operation
on August 15th and will be headed by Office Manager Jason
Wen.  The product range includes worldwide air and ocean
services as well as full door-to-door service.  Birkart
Globistics likewise offers a large number of additional
logistics services.  
    
    There are good reasons behind the decision to establish
the new location in Tianjin: the city is located on the
northeastern coast of China, about 100 km southeast of
Beijing.  Tianjin has one of the largest container ports in
China and is an important hub for the greater region
surrounding the Chinese capital and all of northern China. 
The city is also gaining importance as an airfreight
location.  With the special economic zone TEDA and the
modern industrial park Bin Hai New Area, Tianjin offers
excellent business conditions for international companies. 
The new Birkart Globistics branch is very close to both
economic zones.  

    Full service in Guangzhou
    Already in July, the Birkart Globistics branch in
Guangzhou on China's southern coast was expanded to become
a full-service location.  The Pearl River Delta is the
country's largest industrial centre.  The larger part of
China's export articles are produced here. Birkart
customers in this region can now benefit from a broader
service range.  As applies to its other branches in China,
Birkart also has nationwide A-licences for logistics and
forwarding activities in Guangzhou and Tianjin.  

    "By expanding our branch network, we are
increasing our presence in two of China's strongest
economic centres", says James Kilpatrick, CEO Far East
at Birkart Globistics.  "This improved service means we
are responding to the growing demand for sophisticated
logistics services in China." 

    In the past few years, economic development in China
has been very positive.  In addition to a notable growth in
exports, an enormous increase in imports has also been
recorded. This trend can also be attributed to the rise in
the demand for international consumer goods in China. 
"In this surging market, we are developing our
services on an ongoing basis with our expansion course,
thereby creating optimal conditions for our
customers", says James Kilpatrick.  

    About BIRKART GLOBISTICS air + ocean and Thiel Logistik

    Birkart Globistics air + ocean, headquartered in
Aschaffenburg, Germany, is present on all continents with a
total of 200 locations, including 88 of its own company
branches.  In addition to air and sea transportation, 1,550
employees also provide tailor-made and complex logistics
services.  The company's international focus is on Europe,
Asia, Australia, South America and South Africa.  The
global air + ocean network is strengthened by partnerships
and cooperative ventures, and the company is a member of
the sea-freight cooperation Group 99 and the air-cargo
cooperation FUTURE.  Birkart Globistics air + ocean is a
business segment of Thiel Logistik AG.

    As an external partner, Thiel Logistik AG, Grevenmacher
(Luxembourg), develops a comprehensive range of logistics
and service solutions for trade and industry.  In 2006, the
Group generated sales of EUR 1.89 billion and currently
employs approximately 8,500 staff in 43 countries.  Thiel
Logistik operates in main markets worldwide and has over
350 locations across all continents.  With its three
business segments Solutions (customer-orientated contract
logistics solutions), Air & Ocean (global air and ocean
freight forwarding activities) and Road & Rail (land and
special transportation activities in Central, Western and
Eastern Europe), Thiel Logistik AG is one of the market
leaders.  

    Thiel Logistik AG is listed on the Prime Standard of
Deutsche Boerse.  The major shareholder of the company is
DELTON AG, Bad Homburg, which holds an equity stake of
50.26 percent.  

    Please refer to http://www.birkart.com and
http://www.thiel-logistik.com for more information.  


    Contact:

    Tianjin:
     Fabrizio Stanig 
     General Manager Central & Northern China
     Tel:   [phone] 
     Email: [e-mail]
    
    Guangzhou:
     Detlef Schmeelke 
     Managing Director Hong Kong, South China & Taiwan
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

    Press Contact:

     Mr. Axel Herzhauser
     Regional Sales & Marketing Manager
     BIRKART GLOBISTICS FAR EAST LTD
     Tel:      [phone]
     Fax:      [phone]
     Email:    [e-mail]
     Internet: http://www.birkart.com