Chinese online marketplace AliExpress is to open its largest logistics centre in Central and Eastern Europe at Lodz in Poland. This is just in time for the peak e-commerce delivery season this year.

Alibaba’s Cainiao Smart Logistics is running the operation for AliExpress, which was completed earlier this month.

Orders made on the AliExpress platform will be delivered to Polish customers within three days, and for those in the largest cities in Poland, next day delivery will be available. It will also serve customers in Germany, Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Currently, parcels headed for the region are despatched from the Liege, Belgium warehouse.

The aim is to have the new fulfilment centre in full operation ahead of 11 November – Singles Day – when the Chinese global shopping festival gets underway. Discounts as much as 80% will be offered to customers buying from the AliExpress marketplace.

In preparation for the new fulfilment centre coming on-stream, AliExpress has updated its mobile app for Polish customers.

Alibaba is also rumoured to be planning a dedicated parcel locker network for AliExpress in Poland in the coming months as it expands its presence in the country.