BEST Inc. said that its large sorting center in Southeast Asia, which is located in Selangor, the most developed state in Malaysia is slated to open in 2024. In addition to build a 220,000-square-meter facility in Malaysia, the company aims to connect Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia in its logistics network, better enabling cross-border express delivery among these countries next year. Fueled by growing trade volume between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an ongoing consumption boom in ASEAN member economies and flourishing cross-border e-commerce business in the Asia-Pacific region, the New York-listed Chinese company has already built service networks and overseas warehouses in several Southeast Asian countries.

After entering Thailand, its first market in Southeast Asia, five years ago, BEST expanded its cross-border business by establishing new international routes between China and Southeast Asian countries. In the first half of 2023, it connected China with the Philippines and Indonesia with its services. Unlike other logistics service providers, BEST did not penetrate the market by first establishing transport routes.

Instead, it invested in building self-owned express networks and distribution centers in core logistics hub cities in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.