DHL Supply Chain plans to add 10 transportation hubs in China by the end of 2009 in response to growing domestic shipping activity, Dow Jones reported.

The announcement was made at the opening of the firm’s US$25m hub in Shanghai. DHL Supply Chain, which focuses on warehousing, road transportation and distribution, also operates major hubs in Beijing, Guangzhou, Tianjin and Wuhan.

Martin Rowe, a vice president of DHL Supply Chain Greater China, said Fuzhou and Xian would be among the 10 new hubs, but he didn’t name other sites.

Meanwhile, FedEx Express has officially opened an expanded customer service centre in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province. The express transportation company now has three customer call centres in China, the others being in Beijing and Guangzhou.

Established in May 2007 when FedEx launched domestic services in China, the Wuhan centre has been upgraded to serve international express customers in the east of the country and domestic time-definite customers throughout China. The new facility has doubled the number of its customer service representatives to 200; they manage all aspects of customer shipments, from pick-up to final delivery.