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85% of Asia Pacific small and medium-sized enterprises plan to begin or expand trade with Europe in the next 12-24 months based on a September 2025 survey by FedEx
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76% of APAC firms reported increased export volumes to Europe over the past year
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Top European growth markets for APAC SMEs: UK (42%), Germany (40%), France (38%)
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87% of European SMEs are maintaining or increasing trade with APAC, led by China (55%), Japan (36%), and South Korea (24%)
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Asia-Europe trade lane logged 30 consecutive months of growth as of August 2025
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The key growth drivers are European consumer demand, improved price competitiveness, and strategic expansion opportunities
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Challenges in this cross-border trade are regulatory shifts, complex customs, and market volatility affecting 86% of APAC and 78% of European SMEs
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FedEx added 5 new weekly flights connecting Asia to Europe
A recent Federal Express Corp. (FedEx) survey reveals that 85% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Asia Pacific (APAC) plan to begin or expand trade with Europe over the next 12 to 24 months, spurred by strong growth momentum in this route over the past year.
The commissioned survey polled 850 SMEs across 13 APAC markets and more than 1,200 SMEs in nine European markets to assess sentiment, readiness, and barriers to expansion along the Asia-Europe corridor.
The survey reported that 76% of APAC SMEs recorded higher export volumes to Europe over the past year, with the United Kingdom (42%), Germany (40%), and France (38%) identified as the strongest markets driving growth.
European businesses showed similar optimism, with 87% of SMEs shifting or maintaining trade toward APAC, citing China (55%), Japan (36%), and South Korea (24%) as key markets for expansion in the next two years.
The Asia-Europe trade lane has now seen 30 consecutive months of growth as of August 2025, based on the International Air Transport Association’s August 2025 global air cargo markets data.
APAC companies attributed their export gains to robust European consumer demand, improved price competitiveness, and wider strategic opportunities. European firms, meanwhile, pointed to strategic prospects, advanced logistics networks, and favorable trade agreements as drivers for increasing activity in APAC.
Despite this momentum, both regions highlighted headwinds such as regulatory shifts, complex customs processes, and market volatility. These constraints affect 86% of APAC SMEs and 78% of European SMEs. To address these challenges, 30% of APAC and 41% of European SMEs want digital tools to improve supply chain visibility and reduce delivery times, while 27% of APAC and 41% of European firms seek greater customs expertise.
To support demand, FedEx added five weekly Asia-Europe flights this month, bringing its total to 26 weekly connections. The company also enhanced Vietnam-Europe connectivity, reducing shipping time by one day.
READ: FedEx beefs up Asia Pacific customer support amid tariff, trade shifts
“The strong confidence among Philippine SMEs in expanding trade with Europe is a clear signal of the country’s growing role in global commerce. As international trade dynamics evolve, local businesses are seizing new opportunities beyond borders,” Maribeth Espinosa, managing director, FedEx Philippines, said in an emailed press release.
“At FedEx, we are committed to fueling this momentum by delivering reliable logistics, intuitive digital tools, and adaptive trade expertise that help businesses navigate shifting regulations and thrive in the dynamic Asia-Europe corridor,” she added.
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FedEx operates one of Europe’s fastest integrated air-and-road networks, anchored by major hubs in Paris and Liege. Its system connects 45 countries and territories through more than 550 stations and processes over two million packages daily.
The company’s digital solutions include Electronic Trade Documents for streamlined customs processing and the FedEx Import Tool, which provides shipment visibility, clearance updates, and access to required documentation. The FedEx Go-To Europe Hub also offers trade guidelines and market insights designed to equip APAC firms expanding into Europe.
The survey was carried out in September 2025 by Milieu Insight across 13 Asia Pacific markets, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, and by Mortar Research across nine European markets, including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Turkey, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Belgium, and Germany.
It gathered responses from 1,205 European SMEs engaged in international trade and 850 APAC SMEs trading with Europe, providing a comprehensive view of cross-border business sentiment and challenges along the Asia-Europe corridor.
Federal Express Corporation is one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, providing time-definite delivery across more than 220 countries and territories using a global air-and-ground network.
