SWISS transport and logistics giant Kuehne + Nagel opened an office on January 1 in the port city of Kobe, expanding its network in Japan to a total of eight locations.

The new office comes in response to growing demand for one-stop services from logistics companies in the market. A company statement said that customers are increasingly looking for providers who are capable of offering in-house customs clearance for all cargo that originates from or is destined to the greater Kobe area.

The new Kuehne + Nagel office will provide sea freight logistics from the Sanomiya business district that is close to the local customs bureau and major infrastructure facilities.

"The new Kobe office is also in line with our business strategy of offering in-house customs clearance on a country-wide basis, and marks a further step in the expansion of our high quality sea freight and related logistics operations," said John Levin, president of Kuehne + Nagel.

It plans to next open a new sea freight clearance office in Yokohama in May.