AEI: Customs Brokerage Services in San Juan

CONTACT:  Alvaro Marrero, Fax: (787) 750 3570, Internet: sjuawm@aeilogis.com
          Candace Bouchard, Fax: (203) 655 5895, Internet: exocb@aeilogis.com

          AEI San Juan Adds Customs Brokerage Services
                                
DARIEN, CT USA  (April 21, 1997) -- AEI (NASDAQ:AEIC) announces its San Juan,
Puerto Rico, facility has added customs brokerage to its service offering,
creating what the Company believes to be the first full service logistics
provider based in Puerto Rico.  The addition of customs clearance services
provides customers in Puerto Rico with access to AEI's complete range of global
logistics services including air, ocean, import and export freight forwarding,
and warehousing and distribution. 

"Establishing brokerage services truly augments the transportation services we
provide to both our local and global customers," said Alvaro Marrero, district
manager, San Juan. "Those in the pharmaceutical and garment industries are
especially looking for companies who can provide them with one stop shopping --
and are knowledgeable in product handling specifications."

Other benefits of a local, full-service company include, local account
representation, greater shipment control and elimination of the need to work
with multiple logistics providers. AEI has operated in Puerto Rico since 1958
and is located at Lot 5 - B - 1, Las Ceramica, Carolina, PR, 00984, 
Tel: (787) 769 5151, Fax: (787) 750 3570.  

Operating under a single system for customs brokerage in North America, AEI is
one of the leading brokers in the U.S. with a network of more than 50 customs
brokerage locations with licensed customs brokers at each site. All offices are
connected through AEI's on-line systems.  

The Company established itself as a major northern border broker in 1996,
through the acquisition of J.V. Carr & Son Inc., Detroit, a major customs
brokerage firm in cross-border trade between the U.S. and Canada.  In 1996, 
new customs brokerage offices were opened in Dayton, OH; Denver, CO; Kansas
City, MO; Orlando, FL; Portland, OR; Savannah, GA; and Grand Rapids, MI.

Based in Darien, Connecticut, AEI is an integrated logistics company offering
international air and ocean forwarding, customs brokerage, consulting,
warehousing and distribution and information services through its worldwide
network of 876 locations in 135 countries.  AEI reported gross revenues of
$1.3 billion and net income of $38.5 million in 1996.



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