TNT announced that it will invest 4.5 million euro (about S$7.61m) in its successful Asia Road Network (ARN), which currently serves 7 countries and 127 cities in Southeast Asia and southern China. This brings the total investment to date in the fully integrated ARN to more than 12.5 million euro (about S$21.4 million).

TNT has had brisk and growing demand for its road solutions in the last five years. Capacity on the ARN has grown over 20 per cent year-on-year. At the same time, volume between 2009 and 2010 (year to date) has grown by 70 per cent. In Singapore alone, volume growth grew by 52 per cent between January 2009 and January 2010.

Onno Boots, Regional Managing Director of TNT Southeast Asia and India said, “Five years ago, we announced our intention to develop a road network in Asia, very much like our Europe Road Network. We were the first to attempt such an ambitious project in Asia, and we faced a set of unique challenges. TNT did what we do best, which was to innovate, facilitate and create an unrivalled road network that offers our customers a combination of cost efficiency, speed, security and reliability. Over the years, we have seen the profile of freight diversify to include more high value goods, such as electronics, healthcare products and automotive and industrial equipment.”

The ARN is seamlessly linked to TNT’s air networks and is supported by its multiple facilities across the region, most notably the S$20 million TNT Regional Hub – an integrated air and road hub located in Singapore.