Behind the Scenes at FedEx: Students Explore the Beating Heart of Asia Pacific Logistics
- jaap123456
- Aug 19
- 3 min read
The visit to the FedEx South Pacific Hub is a unique feature of the FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge event in Singapore, that is open only to participants at the finals.
Singapore is a key transpacific connector; and is home to the FedEx South Pacific Regional Hub, a vital part of the FedEx global network, integrating air, ground, and customs clearance operations for faster, more efficient movement of goods.
Opened in October 2012, this 282,700 sq. ft. hub is the first and only facility in Singapore to integrate air, ground, and customs clearance under one roof. It features an on-site cargo clearance unit staffed by Singapore Customs and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, enabling exceptionally fast and seamless customs processing for FedEx customers.
FedEx operates over 50 weekly flights directly from this hub to destinations across Asia and the U.S., making it central to connecting Southeast Asia with global trading lanes. The hub includes two aircraft parking bays right adjacent to sortation areas, enabling packages to move from plane to belt in under four minutes, which is a game‑changing speed for supply chain control. Students observe how international trade is powered by complex systems of routing, and air cargo logistics, which is a crucial foundation for anyone exploring careers in international business or economics.
The facility’s cutting-edge automation, which processes up to 12,000 parcels an hour, demonstrates how AI, robotics, and data systems streamline modern logistics. For students interested in STEM, engineering, or innovation, this visit showcases practical tech applications at industrial scale.
International Trade Challenge participant from Vietnam, Nguyen Anh Khoi, 17, shared, “I was honestly impressed by how entrepreneurial FedEx is; constantly trying to optimize everything. The technology used, the robots, and seeing how all the people work together to get packages delivered was pretty amazing. What also impressed me was how much FedEx cares about giving back to the community. They do all these CSR things like beach cleanups and programs to inspire students. Before this trip, I mostly thought entrepreneurship was about having a good idea and making money from it. But seeing FedEx operate in their South Pacific Hub made me realize there's way more to it.”
Another participant, Jarelle A. Macabe, 18, from the Philippines said, “Our tour around the warehouse and seeing firsthand how hardworking people behind the scenes are, from sorter to courier, opened my eyes to how much work, effort, and practice is put in by FedEx for the satisfaction of their clients. In the future, I aspire to be as customer-centric and dedicated with my craft as FedEx is.”
The students’ visit to the FedEx South Pacific Hub demonstrates how corporations align operational excellence with environmental goals through its energy-efficient infrastructure and green logistics efforts. In Singapore, FedEx operates 31 electric vehicles for parcel pick-up and delivery, while solar panels now supply more than half of the hub’s electricity needs. This is especially relevant for the finalists of the FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge Asia Pacific Finals 2025 that has sustainability as its topic area.
“Visiting FedEx’s South Pacific Hub as part of the International Trade Challenge was eye-opening for all involved. From watching the cargo planes take off and land, to seeing how parcels are sorted using layers of human interface, robotics and automation, to the passionate men and women who drive and deliver shipments - the scale and impact of FedEx’s work really hit home and helped inform the market entry strategies our youth are working on, by adding real-world context they couldn’t get anywhere else,” said Kirk Kenny, Chief Operations Officer of JA Asia Pacific:
The visit to the FedEx South Pacific Hub is a much-welcomed learning experience to inspire the youth in this competition. For young entrepreneurs, understanding supply chain logistics is essential. Seeing how goods are stored, moved, cleared, and delivered inspires smarter planning around product design, market entry, fulfilment strategies, and customer experience.