Nippon Express Holdings completed its acquisition of Metro Supply Chain Group on 1 October 2026, taking full ownership of a Canadian 3PL that generated CAD 1.38 billion (about US$1 billion) in consolidated revenue for the financial year ending 30 September 2025.

The deal, first flagged in a previously announced acquisition agreement, hands the Japanese logistics group an established contract logistics platform spanning Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Metro's consolidated operating profit came in at CAD 56.4 million for that same financial year.

The two sides marked completion with an employee meeting and closing ceremony in Montreal on 7 October. Satoshi Horikiri, President and CEO of Nippon Express Holdings, attended alongside Chiko Nanji, Founder and Group Chairman of Metro Supply Chain Group, and other executives.

What does Metro bring to Nippon Express?

Nippon Express plans to position Metro as a central platform for its global contract logistics business. The Canadian company provides third-party logistics services across several verticals:

• Retail
• Consumer goods
• Automotive
• Manufacturing
• Healthcare
• Technology

Through the acquisition, Nippon Express aims to strengthen its distribution operations and expand its end-to-end supply chain solutions in North America and beyond.

Where will the technology travel?

The group intends to introduce Metro's fulfillment capabilities and warehouse automation technologies across its operations in Europe and Asia. Those capabilities cover order processing, inventory management and shipping operations — functions that give Nippon Express a template to export into two of its largest overseas markets.

What are the forwarding and customs implications?

For freight forwarders and customs brokers, the commercial logic runs in both directions. Nippon Express plans to offer international freight forwarding and customs brokerage services to Metro Supply Chain Group's existing customers, opening a new client base for its forwarding division.

At the same time, the group intends to use Metro's contract logistics relationships to develop additional international transportation business, cross-selling ocean and air freight into warehouse accounts that previously moved cargo through other providers.

The acquisition represents a further step in Nippon Express Holdings' strategy to expand its North American presence while strengthening its integrated logistics services across international markets. Expect the rollout of Metro's automation and fulfillment tooling into European and Asian operations, and deeper forwarding penetration of Metro's customer base, to define the integration's next phase.