Chicago's SEKO Logistics has added an additional 50,000 square feet of warehousing and fulfilment capacity in Hong Kong as it continues to build a commerce gateway for retail and high-tech customers targeting China's rapidly growing online consumer market.

With China's online consumer market forecast to exceed US$1 trillion in 2017, SEKO's latest investment in Hong Kong has seen the opening of a new 50,000 square foot warehouse on the border of Shenzhen in southeastern China, which links Hong Kong to mainland China. It is located 30 minutes from the Port of Hong Kong and 45 minutes from Hong Kong International Airport.

In November 2015, SEKO also opened another 50,000 square foot, high-security e-commerce warehouse to provide order fulfilment services as well as same-day and next-day deliveries in the city.

The new location close to Shenzhen has 10 dock doors to manage the flow of collections and deliveries and employs some 50 staff. It also incorporates a "clean room" for high-end fashion products and a pick-and-pack area, the UK's Lloyd's Loading List reported.

Made out of converted sea containers, the building is currently serving 20 SEKO customers, both global brands and leading businesses in the Asia Pacific region. SEKO also has the opportunity to double the size of its facility as volumes increase.

James Gagne, SEKO's chief operating officer for the Asia Pacific region, said: "Our investment in Hong Kong is being driven by significant e-commerce growth. We are in a strategically important location close to the main port and airport and, most importantly, within easy access of the mainland.

"Hong Kong and China are among the three fastest-growing locations in SEKO's global network spanning more than 40 countries but it's the potential of the market that makes it so exciting. We are giving our customers a total supply chain solution, including best-in-class, customisable technology to manage and grow their businesses to 4.3 billion potential new customers."

SEKO said UK, European, and US brands were in high demand in China, with the ease of online shopping continuing to fuel year-on-year spending growth. Chinese consumers currently spend 25 per cent more time on the web than their US counterparts.

SEKO said Hong Kong was also a proven gateway for online retailers selling products into other parts of the Asian region, including Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Source:Shipping Online.cn