The World Trade Magazine annual ‘Fabulous Fifty Plus One’ (named in honor of the number on the original list) recognizes the people, companies, facilities and trends that are leading the way in world trade. The list is purely subjective, an informal polling of global supply chain ‘watchers’ like industry figures, service providers, and journalists. They tell us who or what’s caught their eye in the continuing evolution of the global supply chain. This year’s roll call is particularly heavy with technology, acknowledging the critical significance real-time’visibility’ is playing in integrating world-wide traders.

This year’s ‘Fabulous Fifty’ take their place in a sector characterized by dynamic change. For each nominee, there are others equally distinguished and primed for inclusion in future rosters. Like world trade itself, leadership is expanding on all fronts.

As international sourcing changes the whole game of land transport, UPS (www.ups.com), FedEx (www.fedex.com) and DHL (www.dhl.com) are re-writing the rules. With the trucking sector going through huge changes and consolidations, these power-houses have been deftly re-structuring their portfolios to offer ever more integrated supply chain services. FedEx’s strategy for diversifying operations through acquisitions has placed it firmly in LTL, ground parcel and contract logistics. Right in step, UPS bought Overnite this spring to offer customers added LTL, especially valuable in adding a domestic piece to its expanding global Supply Chains Solutions division (industry watchers await more such buys). DHL, meanwhile, continues aggressively marketing its profile with products like Import Express, which deploys the company’s broad international network to offer all-inclusive door-to-door service to the U.S. from foreign sources.

Express consignment carrier and global mail provider TNT’s latest product offering is next-day, door-to-door delivery service of diagnostic samples and clinical supplies for central laboratories in Asia to the United States. Clinical trial shipments from Asia to the U.S. are set to double by 2006. Currently, Asia-U.S. shipments account for about 10 percent of the industry, estimated to be worth $30 million a year, half of which originates in Singapore. Separately, the company is aggressively pursuing the pan-European postal market as market liberalization continues. TNT also has a cooperative agreement with China Post. (www.tnt.com)

The complete World Trade Management ‘Fabulous Fifty Plus One’ list

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