Hyundai Glovis wins approval for customs clearance facility as air logistics expansion gathers pace

[Financial News] Hyundai Glovis' logistics center in the logistics complex at Incheon International Airport has been approved as a customs clearance facility for express imports. This lays the groundwork for full-scale, one-stop air logistics in both directions, for imports and exports.
Hyundai Glovis said on the 2nd that the Incheon Airport Logistics Center had received formal approval from the Korea Customs Service (KCS) as a customs clearance facility for express imports. E-commerce import cargo is subject to import customs procedures set by the KCS. Customs clearance takes place at official government facilities and at facilities operated by private companies.
Located on the first floor of the logistics center, Hyundai Glovis' customs clearance facility handles at least 1 million express shipments a month. Advanced equipment automates every stage of the clearance process, maximizing speed and efficiency. A high-speed X-ray system capable of processing 5,000 items per hour is one example. It sends information on the shape and nature of goods directly to Incheon Airport Customs. Hazardous items banned from import, including narcotics, firearms and explosives, are immediately sorted after detailed screening.
The center's third and fourth floors handle logistics for exports overseas. Key products include cosmetics, health functional foods and entertainment-related goods that are popular in Japan, Europe and LATAM. Twenty conveyor belts sort orders by country, region and delivery company to ensure fast delivery. State-of-the-art robotic picking also enables orders to be dispatched and packed on the day they are placed, then transferred to airline terminals. The terminal is only 3 km away, keeping transit times short.
Hyundai Glovis plans to expand its air logistics business using the Incheon Airport Logistics Center as a hub. The facility currently spans five above-ground floors, including office space, and covers a total area of 13,437 pyeong; the company plans to continue investing in its expansion. The move reflects expectations that the air freight forwarding market will grow as e-commerce expands worldwide. Hyundai Glovis has also recently been working on logistics cooperation with Shopee, Southeast Asia's largest online platform, which has more than 700 million users.
A Hyundai Glovis representative voiced the company's ambition, saying, “By combining our expertise in air freight forwarding, state-of-the-art automation systems and the geographic advantage of being close to airport cargo terminals, we will fully fulfill our role as a cross-border e-commerce (CBE) hub for imports and exports,” and added, “We will help leading Korean brands, including K-beauty brands, expand globally and provide overseas consumers with fast and reliable logistics services, raising the competitiveness of Korean products to the next level.”
Hyundai Glovis' logistics business revenue in the third and fourth quarters was 2.9502 trillion won, close to 3 trillion won. Operating profit came to 223.3 billion won, with revenue and operating profit up 17.9% and 19.6%, respectively, year on year. The company is determined to establish itself as a leading global player in distribution and logistics by strengthening its air logistics network alongside its core shipping business.

[email protected] Kim Yun-ho Reporter