APL logistics has been taken on by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) to handle its international import logistics and freight business valued at US$8.9 billion.

With 3,100 facilities in 30 countries, the 45,000-employee AAFES provides merchandise and services to serving and former servicemen and their families, reports UK Transport Intelligence.

Under the deal, APL Logistics will provide logistics and oversee consolidation/vendor management, airfreight, ocean transport, customs clearance and in-transit visibility.

AAFES ships 3,500 FEU of sea freight and 1.27 million kilogrammes of airfreight a year.

APL Logistics and AAFES have been working together for 12 years, but this is the supply chain manager's biggest military logistics deal ever.

Said APL Logistics president Brian Lutt: "This is an important development for us. Not only does it provide us with significant new business, it underscores the strength of our relationship with a critical customer."

Until recently AAFES relied on a collection of carriers and supply chain companies to handle transportation and import logistics. But the contract consolidates that with APL Logistics alone.