Nippon Express opens new air freight facility near Dhaka to support Bangladesh exports

NX Bangladesh, part of Japan’s NIPPON EXPRESS Holdings group, has opened a new air freight handling facility in Gazipur District to support Bangladesh’s growing export cargo volumes.

The Nippon Express Bangladesh Air Freight CFS was inaugurated on September 16. The opening ceremony was attended by Shinichi Saida, Japan’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, and Kazuiki Kataoka, Director of the JETRO Dhaka Office.

Gazipur facility located near Dhaka airport

The new facility is located around 10 km from Dhaka International Airport. It has 3,313 square metres of floor space on a 4,473-square-metre site.

The facility consolidates NX Bangladesh’s previously separate warehouse operations into a single air cargo hub operating around the clock throughout the year.

Full pre-flight cargo handling under one roof

The Gazipur air freight CFS handles the pre-flight process from cargo receipt and exterior inspection through weighing, labelling and onward transportation to the airport.

The facility operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with four truck docks and dedicated vehicle staging areas.

Security infrastructure includes round-the-clock 360-degree CCTV monitoring, water tanks and firefighting systems. Cargo is transported to the airport using security-equipped vehicles.

Kei Sakai, Managing Director of NX Bangladesh, said the facility is designed to handle a broad range of requirements, including air cargo exports and temporary storage of household goods, while serving as a hub for expected growth in export cargo.

Apparel exports drive air freight demand

Bangladesh’s expanding export sector, particularly its apparel industry, is driving demand for air freight services with tighter quality controls and enhanced security.

NX Bangladesh has consolidated warehouse functions previously operated separately at different locations into the Gazipur site. The company expects the move to improve air cargo handling quality and operational efficiency.

NX Group expands its Bangladesh presence

NX Group entered Bangladesh in 2012, initially focusing largely on international freight forwarding for the country’s garment industry.

The group has subsequently expanded its domestic presence. In May 2025, its subsidiary Nippon Express (South Asia & Oceania) completed the acquisition of a 20% stake in Dhaka-based Cold Chain Bangladesh Limited.

The Gazipur facility also forms part of NX Group’s broader expansion in regional air cargo operations. Earlier this year, Nippon Express Vietnam became the first Japanese freight forwarder to obtain an air cargo CFS licence for a facility in Hanoi.