JAPAN, Tokyo, Aug 25, 2025 — Federal Express Corporation, one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, has announced plans to expand and upgrade its gateway facility at Narita International Airport. This upgraded facility is designed to enhance capabilities and meet the increasingly diverse logistics needs of customers and businesses in Eastern Japan.
Upon completion, the new gateway will be approximately double the size of the current facility, totalling around 8,500 square meters, and will consist of two warehouse buildings. FedEx plans to install an advanced sorting system in one of the buildings, capable of handling a higher volume of parcels, including those from cross-border e-commerce businesses, coming in and out of eastern Japan. The other building will be transformed into a specialized gateway facility for freight shipments, providing increased space for handling and preparation of import and export shipments as well as seamless truck loading and unloading operations. FedEx plans to open the new gateway in phases between the second half of 2026 and 2027.
“Improving our operational efficiency at this key gateway in Japan is vital to remain adaptable to today’s varied shipping requirements and volumes,” said Kei Alan Kubota, managing director of FedEx Japan. “The planned enhancements are aligned with FedEx’s business strategy to strengthen our freight offerings and establish the network for what’s next. The new facility at Narita International Airport, which has played a vital role in our operations since we began operations in Japan, is a testament of our strong commitment to facilitating cross-border trade and optimizing the country’s supply chain capabilities.”
FedEx has experienced steady growth in the number of inbound and outbound shipments handled at Narita International Airport. In 2024, this number increased by approximately 4.5% compared to the previous year and surged by 25% compared to 2019 levels.
Freight shipments accounts for a significant proportion of air transport. In 2022, the average weight per shipment in international air cargo was 356 kg for exports and 436 kg for imports, reflecting a trend where import weights consistently exceed export weights across various categories. Notably, food products stand out with a weight of 890 kg per shipment, while categories such as clothing, pharmaceuticals, non-metallic mineral products, metal products, and medical machinery also exceed 500 kg. Machinery and equipment dominate the cargo landscape, comprising 65.9% of total export weight and 63.1% of total import weight in international air cargo. [1]
FedEx currently operates in two airports in Japan: One at Narita International Airport for Eastern Japan and another at Kansai International Airport for Western Japan, connecting customers to 220 countries and territories via an efficient and convenient network.
[1] The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Civil Aviation Bureau