DCL Manila Relocates and Announces Expansion Plans
6.27.01

Manila, Philippines - Direct Container Line (Philippines), the largest sea freight consolidator in the U.S.A. to the Philippines trade lane, relocated to larger offices in Metro Manila last week. The new location for the office is 5th Floor Sec. A, Ramon Magsaysay Center, 1680 Roxas Boulevard, Manila, Philippines.

The relocation was prompted by the company's plan to expand its agency representation services to cover additional trade lanes. Further announcements on joint services with other DCL offices and agents are expected in the next several months. DCL Philippines is expected to focus first on building services in the Intra-Asian, South Pacific, and European markets, where DCL already has established offices.

Company officials stated that despite the downturn in recent years of the major Asian economies, the company has maintained consistent growth in the market. "In the Philippines, DCL has been able to successfully expand the scope of our consolidation and full load business just in this trade lane since opening in Manila in 1994 and Cebu in 1997," stated Don Aquias, Country Manager for DCL in the Philippines. "We've become specialists in servicing the inbound business from the U.S. and our plan is to expand on our current business model," continued Aquias.

The company reports that volumes for DCL from North America to the Philippines have grown an average of 10% over the past three years. DCL now offers up a choice of up to nine carriers for full containerload services and operates a total of five direct consolidation services between North America and the Philippines. Direct services to Manila are offered from Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York on a weekly basis and DCL also offers the only scheduled consolidation service in the industry from the U.S.A. to Cebu.

 "Even though the direct Cebu service is offered every two weeks, the geography is such that customers generally prefer the direct service," added Aquias. Cebu, which is located about 480 nautical miles (890 kms) from Manila, is an island serviced by regional feeder operators. The industry generally ships consolidated cargo to Singapore or Manila for transshipment where it is loaded with other cargo en route to Cebu. Transshipment service to Cebu generally requires an additional nine to sixteen days in transit.

Direct Container Line is a non vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) that was founded in Carson, California-USA in 1978. From its offices in North America, Asia, Europe, South America, and the South Pacific, DCL offers consolidation and full containerload transportation services worldwide. For details on DCL, please visit www.dclusa.com.

 DCL Philippines: Don Aquias, Tel: 63 2 526 1445, daquias@dclmnl.com