10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

______________________________________

FORM 10-Q

______________________________________

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from             to             

Commission File Number: 0-13468

___________________________________________

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

___________________________________________

Washington	91-1069248
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(IRS Employer Identification Number)
1015 Third Avenue, 12thFloor, Seattle, Washington	98104
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(206) 674-3400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

______________________________________________________

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x  No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer	x		Accelerated filer	¨
Non-accelerated filer	o	(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ¨ No x

At November 1, 2011, the number of shares outstanding of the issuer’s Common Stock was 212,029,613.

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

	September 30, 2011			December 31, 2010
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,260,814		$	1,084,465
Short-term investments	483			524
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $11,211 at September 30, 2011 and $14,636 at December 31, 2010	997,705			1,003,884
Deferred Federal and state income taxes	10,161			8,706
Other	43,450			42,776
Total current assets	2,312,613			2,140,355
Property and equipment, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $290,720 at September 30, 2011 and $281,651 at December 31, 2010	528,852			498,648
Goodwill, net	7,927			7,927
Other intangibles, net	2,916			3,716
Other assets, net	30,861			28,533
Total assets	$	2,883,169		$	2,679,179
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	655,092			652,161
Accrued expenses, primarily salaries and related costs	178,175			177,869
Federal, state and foreign income taxes	32,234			31,948
Total current liabilities	865,501			861,978
Deferred Federal and state income taxes	55,610			69,047
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock, none issued	—			—
Common stock, par value $.01 per share. Issued and outstanding 211,979,262 shares at September 30, 2011 and 212,047,774 shares at December 31, 2010	2,120			2,120
Additional paid-in capital	3,641			13,412
Retained earnings	1,951,375			1,717,249
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(1,417		)	8,125
Total shareholders’ equity	1,955,719			1,740,906
Noncontrolling interest	6,339			7,248
Total equity	1,962,058			1,748,154
Total liabilities and equity	$	2,883,169		$	2,679,179

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

2

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

	Three months ended						Nine months ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Revenues:
Airfreight services	$	736,946		$	751,555		$	2,187,730		$	2,043,819
Ocean freight and ocean services	510,521			599,280			1,437,493			1,474,137
Customs brokerage and other services	358,901			316,724			1,023,361			867,482
Total revenues	1,606,368			1,667,559			4,648,584			4,385,438
Operating Expenses:
Airfreight consolidation	558,047			578,924			1,658,963			1,577,289
Ocean freight consolidation	392,249			488,808			1,109,603			1,190,627
Customs brokerage and other services	162,226			141,084			459,696			378,098
Salaries and related costs	258,512			235,357			745,441			656,310
Rent and occupancy costs	21,352			19,295			64,087			57,221
Depreciation and amortization	9,199			9,085			27,630			27,590
Selling and promotion	9,342			7,877			28,527			22,462
Other	31,683			27,508			91,374			77,183
Total operating expenses	1,442,610			1,507,938			4,185,321			3,986,780
Operating income	163,758			159,621			463,263			398,658
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	2,888			1,679			7,520			4,938
Interest expense	(279		)	(140		)	(722		)	(378		)
Other, net	10,792			(1,666		)	12,766			9,231
Other income (expense), net	13,401			(127		)	19,564			13,791
Earnings before income taxes	177,159			159,494			482,827			412,449
Income tax expense	70,283			63,456			189,724			164,692
Net earnings	106,876			96,038			293,103			247,757
Less: net earnings (losses) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	272			(67		)	267			87
Net earnings attributable to shareholders	$	106,604		$	96,105		$	292,836		$	247,670
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$	.50		$	.44		$	1.36		$	1.14
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$	.50		$	.45		$	1.38		$	1.17
Dividends declared and paid per common share	$	—		$	—		$	.25		$	.20
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	214,717,451			216,342,380			215,376,675			216,497,838
Weighted average basic shares outstanding	212,256,119			212,392,286			212,160,994			212,306,521

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

3

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Three months ended						Nine months ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Operating Activities:
Net earnings	$	106,876		$	96,038		$	293,103		$	247,757
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	(629		)	1,284			1,161			3,109
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	(9,328		)	(565		)	(9,663		)	2,521
Excess tax benefits from stock plans	(537		)	(3,470		)	(5,068		)	(11,589		)
Stock compensation expense	12,738			10,846			33,446			33,047
Depreciation and amortization	9,199			9,085			27,630			27,590
Gain on sale of assets	(3		)	(57		)	(54		)	(461		)
Other	1,210			387			1,828			1,232
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Increase in accounts receivable	(4,312		)	(34,203		)	(11,802		)	(266,770		)
Increase in other current assets	(8,344		)	(4,095		)	(5,863		)	(2,959		)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(24,070		)	25,330			14,060			190,440
Increase in income taxes payable, net	10,505			12,438			10,417			36,770
Net cash provided by operating activities	93,305			113,018			349,195			260,687
Investing Activities:
Decrease in short-term investments, net	561			137			23			107
Purchase of property and equipment	(20,619		)	(10,953		)	(58,854		)	(26,653		)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	24			98			109			268
Other	(1,193		)	1,208			(2,699		)	313
Net cash used in investing activities	(21,227		)	(9,510		)	(61,421		)	(25,965		)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	30,966			37,718			54,591			60,958
Repurchases of common stock	(43,298		)	(67,782		)	(108,572		)	(139,450		)
Excess tax benefits from stock plans	537			3,470			5,068			11,589
Dividends paid	—			—			(53,014		)	(42,397		)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(822		)	(963		)	(822		)	(963		)
Net cash used in financing activities	(12,617		)	(27,557		)	(102,749		)	(110,263		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(24,477		)	20,975			(8,676		)	6,838
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	34,984			96,926			176,349			131,297
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,225,830			960,300			1,084,465			925,929
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	1,260,814		$	1,057,226		$	1,260,814		$	1,057,226
Interest and Taxes Paid:
Interest	$	48		$	9		$	65		$	53
Income taxes	65,856			52,407			183,167			129,249

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(in thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

A. Basis of Presentation

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (“the Company”) is a non-asset based provider of global logistics services operating through a worldwide network of offices, international service centers and exclusive or non-exclusive agents. The Company’s customers include retailing and wholesaling, electronics, and manufacturing companies around the world.

The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) have been condensed or omitted. The Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring items, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2011. Certain 2010 amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2011 presentation. All dollar amounts in the notes are presented in thousands except for share data.

All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

B. Accounts Receivable

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts, which is reviewed at least monthly for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments for services and advances. Additional allowances may be necessary in the future if the ability of its customers to pay deteriorates. The Company has recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts in the amounts of $11,211 as of September 30, 2011 and $14,636 as of December 31, 2010. Additions and write-offs have not been significant in the periods presented.

C. Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of net earnings and other gains and losses affecting equity that, under U.S. GAAP, are excluded from net earnings. For the Company, these consist of foreign currency translation gains and losses, net of related income tax effects and comprehensive income or loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests.

D. Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. The Company uses estimates primarily in the following areas: accounts receivable valuation, accrual of costs related to ancillary services the Company provides, accrual of insurance liabilities for the portion of the freight related exposure which the Company has self-insured, accrual of various tax liabilities, accrual of loss contingencies and calculation of share-based compensation expense. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

E. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-No. 05 “Presentation of Comprehensive Income”, which amends Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 220 -”Comprehensive Income”. This update is intended to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income by giving the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The Company is required to and plans to adopt the provisions of ASU 2011-No. 05 beginning in the first quarter of 2012. The adoption is only expected to have a presentation impact on the Company's consolidated statements of earnings and consolidated statements of equity and comprehensive income.

5

In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009–No. 13 “Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements”, which amends ASC Topic 605 –”Revenue Recognition”. This update provides amendments to the criteria for separating deliverables, measuring and allocating arrangement consideration to one or more units of accounting. This update establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. ASU 2009–No. 13 is effective for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2009–No. 13 beginning in the first quarter of 2011. The adoption had no material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

Note 2. Share-Based Compensation

The Company provides compensation benefits by granting stock options and employee stock purchase rights to its employees and restricted shares to its directors. On May 4, 2011, the shareholders approved the 2011 Stock Option Plan ("2011 Plan"), which made available 3,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock for purchase upon exercise of options granted under the 2011 Plan. The Company's annual grant of option awards generally takes place during the second quarter of each fiscal year. For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011 and 2010, 2,998,390 and 2,634,885 options were granted, respectively. Also, for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, 663,386 and 694,329 shares were issued upon exercise of employee stock purchase rights, respectively.

The Company recognizes stock compensation expense based on the estimated fair value of awards granted to employees and directors under the Company’s stock option, director restricted stock and employee stock purchase rights plans. The expense, adjusted for expected forfeitures, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the stock awards' vesting period. The forfeiture assumption used to calculate compensation expense is primarily based on historical pre-vesting employee forfeiture patterns. The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing with the following assumptions:

	Nine months ended September 30,
	2011			2010
Dividend yield	.97 - .98%			1.07 - 1.08%
Volatility - stock option plans	38 - 40%			38 - 40%
Volatility - stock purchase rights plans	26		%	29		%
Risk free interest rates	.19 - 2.84%			.29 - 2.86%
Expected life (years) - stock option plans	5.50 - 7.11			5.44 - 6.90
Expected life (years) - stock purchase rights plans	1			1
Weighted average fair value of stock options granted during the period	$	19.35		$	14.51
Weighted average fair value of stock purchase rights granted during the period	$	11.70		$	11.16

Total stock compensation expense and the total related tax benefit recognized are as follows:

	Three months ended				Nine months ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2011		2010		2011		2010
Stock compensation expense	$	12,738	$	10,846	$	33,446	$	33,047
Recognized tax benefit	$	40	$	39	$	117	$	148

6

Note 3. Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

The following table reconciles the numerator and the denominator of the basic and diluted per share computations for earnings attributable to shareholders per share:

	Three months ended
	September 30,
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)	Net earnings attributable to shareholders		Weighted average shares	Earnings per share
2011
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	106,604	212,256,119	$	.50
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		2,461,332	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	106,604	214,717,451	$	.50
2010
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	96,105	212,392,286	$	.45
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		3,950,094	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	96,105	216,342,380	$	.44

	Nine months ended
	September 30,
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)	Net earnings attributable to shareholders		Weighted average shares	Earnings per share
2011
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	292,836	212,160,994	$	1.38
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		3,215,681	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	292,836	215,376,675	$	1.36
2010
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	247,670	212,306,521	$	1.17
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		4,191,317	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	247,670	216,497,838	$	1.14

The following shares have been excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been antidilutive:

	Three months ended		Nine months ended
	September 30,		September 30,
	2011	2010	2011	2010
Shares	8,550,014	10,975,415	7,281,935	10,975,415

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Note 4. Components of Equity and Comprehensive Income

The components of equity for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

	Shareholders’ equity			Noncontrolling interest		Total equity
Balance at December 31, 2010	$	1,740,906		7,248		1,748,154
Exercise of stock options	30,367			—		30,367
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan	24,224			—		24,224
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans	(108,572		)	—		(108,572	)
Stock compensation expense	33,446			—		33,446
Tax benefits from stock plans	5,068			—		5,068
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	292,836			267		293,103
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $5,621	(10,160		)	(354	)	(10,514	)
Reclassification adjustments for foreign currency realized losses, net of tax of $391	618			—		618
Total comprehensive income	283,294			(87	)	283,207
Dividends paid ($.25 per share)	(53,014		)	—		(53,014	)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	—			(822	)	(822	)
Balance at September 30, 2011	$	1,955,719		6,339		1,962,058
Balance at December 31, 2009	$	1,553,007		8,340		1,561,347
Exercise of stock options	40,408			—		40,408
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan	20,550			—		20,550
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans	(139,450		)	—		(139,450	)
Stock compensation expense	33,047			—		33,047
Tax benefits from stock plans	11,589			—		11,589
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	247,670			87		247,757
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $2,303	4,198			32		4,230
Total comprehensive income	251,868			119		251,987
Dividends paid ($.20 per share)	(42,397		)	—		(42,397	)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	—			(963	)	(963	)
Balance at September 30, 2010	$	1,728,622		7,496		1,736,118

On May 4, 2011, the Board of Directors declared a semi-annual cash dividend of $.25 per share payable on June 15, 2011 to shareholders of record as of June 1, 2011. On May 5, 2010, the Board of Directors declared a semi-annual cash dividend of $.20 per share payable on June 15, 2010 to shareholders of record as of June 1, 2010.

Subsequent to the end of the quarter, on October 31, 2011, the board of Directors declared a semi-annual cash dividend of $.25 per share payable on December 15, 2011 to shareholders of record as of December 1, 2011.

8

The components of total comprehensive income for interim periods are as follows:

	Three months ended					Nine months ended
	September 30,					September 30,
	2011			2010		2011			2010
Net earnings	$	106,876		$	96,038	$	293,103		$	247,757
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $13,476 and $11,984 for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and $5,621 and $2,303 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010	(24,707		)	21,983		(10,514		)	4,230
Reclassification adjustments for foreign currency realized losses, net of tax of $391 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2011	618			—		618			—
Comprehensive income	82,787			118,021		283,207			251,987
Less: comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	59			71		(87		)	119
Comprehensive income attributable to shareholders	$	82,728		$	117,950	$	283,294		$	251,868

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Note 5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments, other than cash, consist primarily of cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses. The carrying value of these financial instruments approximates their fair value. Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at date of purchase. Short term investments have a maturity of greater than three months at date of purchase. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments consist of the following:

	September 30, 2011				December 31, 2010
	Cost		Fair Value		Cost		Fair Value
Cash and Cash Equivalents:
Cash and overnight deposits	$	456,389	$	456,389	$	443,716	$	443,716
Corporate commercial paper	743,388		743,488		571,260		571,373
Time deposits	61,037		61,037		69,489		69,489
Total cash and cash equivalents	1,260,814		1,260,914		1,084,465		1,084,578
Short-Term Investments:
Time deposits	483		483		524		524
Total	$	1,261,297	$	1,261,397	$	1,084,989	$	1,085,102

The fair value of corporate commercial paper is based on the use of market interest rates for identical or similar assets.

Note 6. Contingencies

On October 10, 2007, the U. S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a subpoena ordering the Company to produce certain information and records relating to an investigation of alleged anti-competitive behavior amongst air cargo freight forwarders. As part of this process, the Company has met with and continues to co-operate with the DOJ. The Company expects to incur additional costs during the course of this ongoing investigation, which could include fines and/or penalties if the DOJ concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior and such fines and/or penalties could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. At this time the Company is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible fines and/or penalties, if any, that might result from this investigation.

On January 3, 2008, the Company was named as a defendant, with seven other European and North American-based global logistics providers, in a Federal antitrust class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of New York, Precision Associates, Inc. et al v. Panalpina World Transport, No. 08-CV0042. On July 21, 2009, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding a number of new third party defendants and various claims which they assert to violate the Sherman Act. The plaintiffs' amended complaint, which purports to be brought on behalf of a class of customers (and has not yet been certified), asserts claims that the defendants engaged in price fixing regarding eight discrete surcharges in violation of the Sherman Act. The allegations concerning the Company relate to two of these surcharges. The amended complaint seeks unspecified damages and injunctive relief. The Company believes that these allegations are without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself against these allegations. On August 13, 2009, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint for failure to state a claim. Plaintiffs filed their opposition to the Company's motion on January 30, 2010. On January 4, 2011, the Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation to dismiss the claims against the Company and others, but allowed the plaintiffs' the opportunity to further amend the complaint. The Report and Recommendation is now pending before the Court for resolution. The Company expects to incur ongoing attorneys' fees and other defense costs and, if there is an adverse judgment, monetary damages could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. At this time the Company has no way of predicting the ultimate outcome of this proceeding and is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible loss or damages, if any, that might result as an outcome of this proceeding.

10

On June 18, 2008, the European Commission (EC) issued a request for information to the Company's UK subsidiary, Expeditors International (UK) Ltd., requesting certain information relating to an ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On February 18, 2009, the EC issued another request for information to the same subsidiary requesting certain additional information in connection with the EC's ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On February 10, 2010, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary, Expeditors Hong Kong Limited, received a Statement of Objections (SO) from the EC. The SO initiates a proceeding against the Company alleging anti-competitive behavior contrary to European Union rules on competition. Specific to the Company, the allegations in the SO are limited to the period from August 2005 to June 2006 and only concern airfreight trade lanes between South China/Hong Kong and the European Economic Area. The Company filed a response to the allegations in the SO on April 12, 2010 and participated in an oral hearing on July 6, 2010. On January 20, 2011, the EC issued another request for information to the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary requesting certain additional information in connection with its on-going investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On October 25, 2011, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary received a standard letter from the EC regarding its ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The letter (i) invited comment on the EC's January 20, 2011 request for information and (ii) indicated potential revenue data it may take into account for the calculation of any fine it may impose. The Company expects to incur ongoing attorneys' fees and other defense costs during the course of this ongoing proceeding. Administrative fines, if the EC concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior, could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. The Company continues to vigorously defend itself against the allegations, and at this time, the Company has no way of predicting the ultimate outcome of this proceeding. Further, the Company is unable to estimate the range of a reasonably possible fine, if any, that might result from this proceeding.

On August 17, 2010, the Company and its Brazilian subsidiary, Expeditors Internacional do Brasil Ltda received an Administrative Proceeding (AP) from the Brazilian Ministry of Justice (MOJ). The AP initiates a proceeding against the Company and one of its employees, alleging possible anti-competitive behavior. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself against the allegations. The Company expects to incur additional costs during the course of this proceeding, which could include administrative fines if the MOJ concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior and such fines could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. At this time the Company is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible fines, if any, that might result from this proceeding.

No amounts have been accrued for any of the contingencies described above. Legal and associated costs incurred by the Company on the above matters were not significant for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Since the beginning of the proceedings in 2007, the Company has incurred approximately $16 million in legal and associated costs on the above matters. These government investigations and the related litigation matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. An unfavorable ruling could include substantial monetary damages and, in matters in which injunctive relief or other conduct remedies are sought, an injunction or other order relating to business conduct. Were unfavorable final outcomes to occur, the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for the particular quarter or year could be materially harmed.

The Company is involved in other claims and lawsuits which arise in the ordinary course of business, none of which currently, in management's opinion, will have a significant effect on the Company's operations or financial position.

Note 7. Business Segment Information

The Company is organized functionally in geographic operating segments. Accordingly, management focuses its attention on revenues, net revenues, operating income, identifiable assets, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization and equity generated in each of these geographical areas when evaluating the effectiveness of geographic management. The Company charges its subsidiaries and affiliates for services rendered in the United States on a cost recovery basis. Transactions among the Company’s various offices are conducted using the same arms-length pricing methodologies the Company uses when its offices transact business with independent agents.

11

Financial information regarding the Company’s operations by geographic area are as follows:

(in thousands)	UNITED STATES		OTHER NORTH AMERICA	LATIN AMERICA	ASIA PACIFIC	EUROPE and AFRICA	MIDDLE EAST and INDIA	ELIMI- NATIONS		CONSOLI- DATED
Three months ended September 30, 2011:
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	388,736	49,341	21,353	839,069	229,776	78,093	—		1,606,368
Transfers between geographic areas	27,161		2,989	5,025	10,500	10,727	4,596	(60,998	)	—
Total revenues	$	415,897	52,330	26,378	849,569	240,503	82,689	(60,998	)	1,606,368
Net revenues	$	189,381	23,783	15,035	162,785	77,768	25,094	—		493,846
Operating income	$	57,564	7,345	4,846	69,001	18,616	6,386	—		163,758
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	1,509,393	87,554	52,058	667,421	414,991	149,253	2,499		2,883,169
Capital expenditures	$	7,435	315	162	7,201	4,981	525	—		20,619
Depreciation and amortization	$	4,904	250	240	1,822	1,488	495	—		9,199
Equity	$	1,242,594	49,134	27,258	426,164	146,652	92,668	(22,412	)	1,962,058
Three months ended September 30, 2010:
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	361,120	43,380	20,400	968,858	190,350	83,451	—		1,667,559
Transfers between geographic areas	28,571		3,567	4,190	8,593	11,045	4,448	(60,414	)	—
Total revenues	$	389,691	46,947	24,590	977,451	201,395	87,899	(60,414	)	1,667,559
Net revenues	$	179,290	20,911	13,181	153,241	68,158	23,962	—		458,743
Operating income	$	61,735	6,846	3,837	64,046	17,128	6,029	—		159,621
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	1,437,318	78,347	48,887	574,216	433,020	139,478	4,917		2,716,183
Capital expenditures	$	5,297	92	354	1,853	2,963	394	—		10,953
Depreciation and amortization	$	4,882	316	223	1,871	1,184	609	—		9,085
Equity	$	1,121,817	40,708	23,974	346,210	155,428	80,774	(32,793	)	1,736,118

(in thousands)	UNITED STATES		OTHER NORTH AMERICA	LATIN AMERICA	ASIA PACIFIC	EUROPE and AFRICA	MIDDLE EAST and INDIA	ELIMI- NATIONS		CONSOLI- DATED
Nine months ended September 30, 2011:
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	1,156,647	141,004	62,822	2,383,549	673,111	231,451	—		4,648,584
Transfers between geographic areas	77,099		8,454	15,866	29,853	32,789	13,305	(177,366	)	—
Total revenues	$	1,233,746	149,458	78,688	2,413,402	705,900	244,756	(177,366	)	4,648,584
Net revenues	$	548,918	66,065	45,295	454,889	230,521	74,634	—		1,420,322
Operating income	$	169,050	18,895	14,095	189,981	53,200	18,042	—		463,263
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	1,509,393	87,554	52,058	667,421	414,991	149,253	2,499		2,883,169
Capital expenditures	$	14,815	923	462	16,535	24,568	1,551	—		58,854
Depreciation and amortization	$	14,815	830	773	5,638	4,014	1,560	—		27,630
Equity	$	1,242,594	49,134	27,258	426,164	146,652	92,668	(22,412	)	1,962,058
Nine months ended September 30, 2010:
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	979,675	120,667	55,317	2,482,116	525,064	222,599	—		4,385,438
Transfers between geographic areas	72,743		7,722	12,082	23,861	29,407	11,918	(157,733	)	—
Total revenues	$	1,052,418	128,389	67,399	2,505,977	554,471	234,517	(157,733	)	4,385,438
Net revenues	$	489,231	56,757	37,428	397,678	192,135	66,195	—		1,239,424
Operating income	$	152,425	16,317	11,155	158,938	43,870	15,953	—		398,658
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	1,437,318	78,347	48,887	574,216	433,020	139,478	4,917		2,716,183
Capital expenditures	$	13,137	417	988	3,967	6,415	1,729	—		26,653
Depreciation and amortization	$	14,753	1,023	639	5,626	3,721	1,828	—		27,590
Equity	$	1,121,817	40,708	23,974	346,210	155,428	80,774	(32,793	)	1,736,118

In the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company changed its geographical area organization by incorporating the management of its Australasia region with its Asia region. Accordingly, the financial information of the Company’s Asia and Australasia segments, previously reported separately, have been combined in the Asia Pacific operating segment for all periods presented.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS UNDER PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995; CERTAIN CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

Certain portions of this report on Form 10-Q including the sections entitled “Executive Summary,” “Critical Accounting Estimates,” “Results of Operations,” “Currency and Other Risk Factors” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” contain forward-looking statements. Words such as “expects,” “goals,” “plans,” “believes,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of future financial performance, our anticipated growth and trends in the Company's businesses, and other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. These statements must be considered in connection with the discussion of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. In addition to risk factors identified elsewhere in this report, attention should be given to the factors identified and discussed in the report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2011.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. is engaged in the business of global logistics management, including international freight forwarding and consolidation, for both air and ocean freight. The Company acts as a customs broker in all domestic offices, and in many of its international offices. The Company also provides additional services for its customers including value-added distribution, purchase order management, vendor consolidation and other logistics solutions. The Company does not compete for overnight courier or small parcel business. The Company does not own or operate aircraft or steamships.

12

International trade is influenced by many factors, including economic and political conditions in the United States and abroad, currency exchange rates, regulatory environments, cargo and other security concerns, laws and policies relating to tariffs, trade restrictions, foreign investments and taxation. Periodically, governments consider a variety of changes to regulations, current tariffs and trade restrictions and accords. The Company cannot predict which, if any, of these proposals may be adopted, nor can the Company predict the effects the adoption of any such proposal will have on the Company’s business. Doing business in foreign locations also subjects the Company to a variety of risks and considerations not normally encountered by domestic enterprises. In addition to being influenced by governmental policies concerning international trade, the Company’s business may also be affected by political developments and changes in government personnel or policies, as well as economic turbulence, political unrest or security concerns in the nations in which it does business, such as the current events in the Middle East and the future impact that these events may have on international trade and oil prices. The global logistics services industry is intensely competitive and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future. Consistent with current economic conditions, the Company’s pricing and terms continue to be pressured by customers and service providers.

The Company derives its revenues from three principal sources: 1) airfreight services, 2) ocean freight and ocean services, and 3) customs brokerage and other services. These are the revenue categories presented in the financial statements.

As a non-asset based carrier, the Company does not own transportation assets. Rather, the Company generates the major portion of its air and ocean freight revenues by purchasing transportation services from direct (asset-based) carriers and reselling those services to its customers. The difference between the rate billed to customers (the sell rate) and the rate paid to the carrier (the buy rate) is termed “net revenue” or “yield.” By consolidating shipments from multiple customers and concentrating its buying power, the Company is able to negotiate favorable buy rates from the direct carriers, while at the same time offering lower sell rates than customers would otherwise be able to negotiate themselves.

Customs brokerage and other services involves providing services at destination, such as helping customers clear shipments through customs by preparing required documentation, calculating and providing for payment of duties and other taxes on behalf of the customers as well as arranging for any required inspections by governmental agencies, and arranging for delivery. This is a complicated function requiring technical knowledge of customs rules and regulations in the multitude of countries in which the Company has offices.

The Company’s ability to provide services to its customers is highly dependent on good working relationships with a variety of entities including airlines, ocean steamship lines, and governmental agencies. The significance of maintaining acceptable working relationships with governmental agencies and asset-based carriers involved in global trade has gained increased importance as a result of ongoing concern over terrorism. As each carrier labors to comply with governmental regulations implementing security policies and procedures, inherent conflicts emerge which can and do affect global trade. A good reputation helps to develop practical working understandings that will assist in meeting security requirements while minimizing potential international trade obstacles. The Company considers its current working relationships with these entities to be satisfactory. However, the airline and ocean steamship line industries have incurred significant losses in recent years as a result of the global economic downturn and many carriers are highly leveraged with debt. This situation has required the Company to be increasingly selective in which carriers to utilize. Further changes in the financial stability, operating capabilities and capacity of asset-based carriers, space allotments available from carriers, governmental regulation or deregulation efforts, “modernization” of the regulations governing customs brokerage, and/or changes in governmental quota restrictions or trade accords could affect the Company’s business in unpredictable ways.

Historically, the Company’s operating results have been subject to a seasonal trend when measured on a quarterly basis. The first quarter has traditionally been the weakest and the third and fourth quarters have traditionally been the strongest. This pattern is the result of, or is influenced by, numerous factors including weather patterns, national holidays, consumer demand, economic conditions and a myriad of other similar and subtle forces. In addition, this historical quarterly trend has been influenced by the growth and diversification of the Company’s international network and service offerings. The Company cannot accurately forecast many of these factors nor can the Company estimate accurately the relative influence of any particular factor and, as a result, there can be no assurance that historical patterns, if any, will continue in future periods.

A significant portion of the Company’s revenues are derived from customers in retail industries whose shipping patterns are tied closely to consumer demand, and from customers in industries whose shipping patterns are dependent upon just-in-time production schedules. Therefore, the timing of the Company’s revenues are, to a large degree, impacted by factors out of the Company’s control, such as a sudden change in consumer demand for retail goods and/or manufacturing production delays. Additionally, many customers ship a significant portion of their goods at or near the end of a quarter, and therefore, the Company may not learn of a shortfall in revenues until late in a quarter. To the extent that a shortfall in revenues or earnings was not expected by securities analysts, any such shortfall from levels predicted by securities analysts could have an immediate and adverse effect on the trading price of the Company’s stock.

In terms of the opportunities, challenges and risks that management is focused on in 2011, the Company operates in 60 countries throughout the world in the competitive global logistics industry and Company activities are tied directly to the global economy. From the inception of the Company, management has believed that the elements required for a successful global service organization can only be assured through recruiting, training, and ultimately retaining superior personnel. The Company’s greatest challenge is now and always has been perpetuating a consistent global culture which demands:

• Total dedication, first and foremost, to providing superior customer service;

• Aggressive marketing of all of the Company’s service offerings;

• Ongoing development of key employees and management personnel via formal and informal means;

• Creation of unlimited advancement opportunities for employees dedicated to hard work, personal growth, ethical behavior and continuous improvement;

• Individual commitment to the identification and mentoring of successors for every key position so that when inevitable change is required, a qualified and well-trained internal candidate is ready to step forward; and

• Continuous identification, design and implementation of system solutions, both technological and otherwise, to meet and exceed the needs of our customers while simultaneously delivering tools to make our employees more efficient and more effective.

The Company reinforces these values with a compensation system that rewards employees for profitably managing the things they can control. This compensation system has been in place since the Company became a publicly traded entity. There is no limit to how much a key manager can be compensated for success. The Company believes in a “real world” environment in every operating unit where individuals are not sheltered from the profit implications of their decisions. If these decisions result in operating losses, these losses must be made up from future operating profits, in the aggregate, before any cash incentive compensation can be earned. At the same time, the Company insists on continued focus on such things as accounts receivable collection, cash flow management and credit soundness in an attempt to insulate managers from the sort of catastrophic errors that might end a career.

Any failure to perpetuate this unique culture on a self-sustained basis throughout the Company provides a greater threat to the Company’s continued success than any external force, which would be largely beyond our control. Consequently, management spends the majority of its time focused on creating an environment where employees can learn and develop while also building systems and taking preventative action to reduce exposure to negative events. The Company strongly believes that it is nearly impossible to predict events that, in the aggregate, could have a positive or a negative impact on future operations. As a result our focus is on building and maintaining a global culture of well-trained employees and managers that are prepared to identify and react to subtle changes as they develop and thereby help the Company adapt and thrive as major trends emerge.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Management believes that the nature of the Company’s business is such that there are few complex challenges in accounting for operations.

While judgments and estimates are a necessary component of any system of accounting, the Company’s use of estimates is limited primarily to the following areas:

• accounts receivable valuation;

• accrual of costs related to ancillary services the Company provides;

• accrual of insurance liabilities for the portion of the freight related exposure which the Company has self-insured;

• accrual of various tax liabilities;

• accrual of loss contingencies; and

• calculation of share-based compensation expense.

These estimates, other than the accrual of loss contingencies and calculation of share-based compensation expense, are not highly uncertain and have not historically been subject to significant change. Management believes that the methods utilized in all of these areas are non-aggressive in approach and consistent in application. Management believes that there are limited, if any, alternative accounting principles or methods which could be applied to the Company’s transactions. While the use of estimates means that actual future results may be different from those contemplated by the estimates, the Company believes that alternative principles and methods used for making such estimates, other than the calculation of share-based compensation expense, would not produce materially different results than those reported.

13

The outcomes of legal proceedings and claims brought against the Company are subject to significant uncertainty. An estimated loss from a contingency such as a legal proceeding or claim is accrued by a charge to income if it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Disclosure of a loss contingency is required if there is at least a reasonable possibility that a significant loss has been incurred. In determining whether a loss should be accrued, management evaluates several factors, including advice from outside counsel, in order to estimate the degree of probability of an unfavorable outcome and make a reasonable estimate of the amount of loss or range of reasonably possible loss. Changes in these factors could have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year.

As described in Note 2 in the condensed consolidated financial statements in this quarterly report, the Company accounts for share-based compensation based on an estimate of the fair value of options granted to employees under the Company’s stock option and stock purchase rights plans. This expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the option vesting period.

Determining the appropriate option pricing model to use to estimate stock compensation expense requires judgment. Any option pricing model requires assumptions that are subjective and these assumptions also require judgment. Examples include assumptions about long-term stock price volatility, employee exercise patterns, pre-vesting option forfeitures, post-vesting option terminations, and future interest rates and dividend yields. The Company uses the Black-Scholes model for estimating the fair value of stock options.

Management believes that the assumptions used are appropriate based upon the Company’s historical and currently expected future experience. Looking to future events, management has been strongly influenced by historical patterns which may not be valid predictors of future developments and any future deviation may be material. The fair value of an option is more significantly impacted by changes in the expected volatility and expected life assumptions. The pre-vesting forfeitures assumption is ultimately adjusted to the actual forfeiture rate. Therefore, changes in the forfeitures assumption would not impact the total amount of expense ultimately recognized over the vesting period. Different forfeitures assumptions would only impact the timing of expense recognition over the vesting period. Estimated forfeitures will be reassessed in subsequent periods and may change based on new facts and circumstances.

Results of Operations

The following table shows the consolidated net revenues (revenues less transportation expenses) attributable to the Company’s principal services and the Company’s expenses for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, expressed as percentages of net revenues. Management believes that net revenues are a better measure than total revenues of the relative importance of the Company’s principal services since total revenues earned by the Company as a freight consolidator include the carriers’ charges to the Company for carrying the shipment whereas revenues earned by the Company in its other capacities include only the commissions and fees actually earned by the Company.

14

The table and the accompanying discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto which appear elsewhere in this quarterly report.

	Three months ended September 30,									Nine months ended September 30,
	2011				2010					2011				2010
	Amount		Percent of net revenues		Amount			Percent of net revenues		Amount		Percent of net revenues		Amount		Percent of net revenues
	(Amounts in thousands)
Net Revenues:
Airfreight services	$	178,899	36	%	$	172,631		38	%	$	528,767	37	%	$	466,530	38	%
Ocean freight and ocean services	118,272		24		110,472			24		327,890		23		283,510		23
Customs brokerage and other services	196,675		40		175,640			38		563,665		40		489,384		39
Net revenues	493,846		100		458,743			100		1,420,322		100		1,239,424		100
Overhead Expenses:
Salaries and related costs	258,512		52		235,357			51		745,441		52		656,310		53
Other	71,576		15		63,765			14		211,618		15		184,456		15
Total overhead expenses	330,088		67		299,122			65		957,059		67		840,766		68
Operating income	163,758		33		159,621			35		463,263		33		398,658		32
Other income (expense), net	13,401		3		(127		)	—		19,564		1		13,791		1
Earnings before income taxes	177,159		36		159,494			35		482,827		34		412,449		33
Income tax expense	70,283		14		63,456			14		189,724		13		164,692		13
Net earnings	106,876		22		96,038			21		293,103		21		247,757		20
Less: net earnings (losses) attributable to noncontrolling interest	272		—		(67		)	—		267		—		87		—
Net earnings attributable to shareholders	$	106,604	22	%	$	96,105		21	%	$	292,836	21	%	$	247,670	20	%

Airfreight services net revenues increased 4% for the three-month period ended September 30, 2011, as compared with the same period for 2010. The increase in global airfreight services net revenues was primarily due to a 9% increase in net revenue per kilo offset by a 4% decrease in airfreight tonnage. Airfreight export tonnage for North America and Asia Pacific decreased 3% and 4%, respectively, while it increased 1% for Europe for the third quarter of 2011 as compared with the same period in 2010. Airfreight services net revenues remained constant for North America and increased 2% and 17% in Asia Pacific and Europe, respectively, in the third quarter of 2011 as compared with the same period in 2010. Based on asset deployment, air carriers anticipated higher demand levels during the second half of 2011 than actually materialized through the end of the third quarter. The resulting excess capacity created positive buying opportunities which offset the 4% decrease in global airfreight tonnage compared to the same period in the prior year. Management believes that uncertainty over a myriad of economic and social concerns has affected consumer buying patterns relative to the same period in 2010.

Airfreight services net revenues increased 13% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011, as compared with the same period for 2010. The increase in global airfreight services net revenues was primarily due to a 13% increase in net revenue per kilo and a 3% increase in airfreight tonnage. Airfreight export tonnage for North America and Europe increased 11% and 6%, respectively, while it decreased 2% for Asia Pacific for the first nine months of 2011, as compared with the same period in 2010. Whereas, airfreight services net revenues increased 15%, 12% and 16% in North America, Asia Pacific and Europe, respectively, during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011, as compared with the same period in 2010. The increase in airfreight tonnage is primarily due to growth in market share and higher customer volumes in the first quarter of 2011. Net revenue per kilo for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, was higher as the Company continued to benefit from positive buying opportunities created from excess carrier capacity.

Ocean freight net revenues are comprised of three basic services: ocean freight consolidation, direct ocean forwarding and order management. The majority of the Company’s ocean freight net revenue is derived from ocean freight consolidation which represented 49% and 50% of ocean freight net revenue for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively, and 50% for each of the same periods ended September 30, 2010, respectively.

15

Ocean freight and ocean services net revenues increased 7% for the three-month period ended September 30, 2011, as compared with the same period for 2010. North America, Asia Pacific and Europe ocean freight net revenues increased 7%, 7% and 8%, respectively, for the third quarter of 2011 as compared with the same period in 2010. Ocean freight consolidation net revenue increased 5% for the third quarter of 2011, as compared with the same period in 2010 due to a 7% increase in net revenue per container. Volume, as measured in terms of forty-foot container equivalent units (FEUs), decreased 2% during the three months ended September 30, 2011, as compared with the same period in 2010.

Ocean freight and ocean services net revenues increased 16% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011, as compared with the same period for 2010. North America, Asia Pacific and Europe ocean freight net revenues increased approximately 15%, 16% and 19%, respectively, for the first nine months of 2011 as compared with the same period in 2010. Ocean freight consolidation net revenue increased 16%, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011, as compared with the same period in 2010, due to a 14% increase in net revenue per container and a 1% increase in volume as measured in FEUs. Management believes the overall growth rate in volume achieved in the first quarter of 2011 was not sustained in the second and third quarters of 2011 due to consumer uncertainties over the current economic and social concerns. Similar to airfreight, the increase in net revenue per container resulted from excess carrier capacity in 2011 leading to the creation of positive buying opportunities, primarily in Asia.

Direct ocean freight forwarding and order management, which are primarily fee-based, increased 8% and 12%, respectively, for the three-month period ended September 30, 2011, and increased 13% and 19%, respectively, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011, as compared with the same periods in 2010, primarily due to an increase in volume.

Customs brokerage and other services net revenues increased 12% and 15%, respectively, for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011, as compared with the same periods for 2010, primarily as a result of growth in market share and an increase in domestic time definite freight volumes. Customers continue to seek out customs brokers with sophisticated computerized capabilities critical to an overall logistics management program, including rapid responses to changes in the regulatory and security environment.

Salaries and related costs increased 10% and 14%, respectively, during the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011, as compared with the same periods in 2010, primarily as a result of (i) larger bonuses earned from achieving higher operating income, (ii) an increase in the number of employees and (iii) an overall increase in average base salaries and related taxes and benefits.

The effects of including stock-based compensation expense in salaries and related costs are as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Salaries and related costs	$	258,512		$	235,357		$	745,441		$	656,310
As a % of net revenue	52.3		%	51.3		%	52.5		%	53.0		%
Stock compensation expense	$	12,738		$	10,846		$	33,446		$	33,047
As a % of salaries and related costs	4.9		%	4.6		%	4.5		%	5.0		%
As a % of net revenue	2.6		%	2.4		%	2.4		%	2.7		%

Excluding stock compensation expense, salaries and related costs as a percentage of net revenue increased 83 basis points for the three month period ended September 30, 2011, as compared to the same period in 2010, primarily as a result of increases in salary and related costs described above. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011, salaries and related costs as a percentage of net revenue was fairly constant, as compared with the same period for 2010.

Historically, the relatively consistent relationship between salaries and net revenues is the result of a compensation philosophy that has been maintained since the inception of the Company: offer a modest base salary and the opportunity to share in a fixed and determinable percentage of the operating profit of the business unit controlled by each key employee. Using this compensation model, changes in individual incentive compensation will occur in proportion to changes in Company profits, creating a direct alignment between corporate performance and shareholder interests. Bonuses to field and corporate management for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011 were up 17% as compared with the same period for 2010, primarily as a result of a 16% increase in operating income. The Company’s management incentive compensation programs have always been incentive-based and performance driven and there is no built-in bias that favors or enriches management in a manner inconsistent with overall corporate performance.

16

Because the Company’s management incentive compensation programs are also cumulative, no management bonuses can be paid unless the relevant business unit is, from inception, cumulatively profitable. Any operating losses must have been offset in their entirety by operating profits before management is eligible for a bonus. Since the most significant portion of management compensation comes from the incentive bonus programs, the Company believes that this cumulative feature is a disincentive to excessive risk taking by its managers. Due to the nature of the Company’s services, it has a short operating cycle. The outcome of any higher risk transactions, such as overriding established credit limits, would be known in a relatively short time frame. Management believes that when the potential and certain impact on the bonus is fully considered in light of this short operating cycle, the potential for short term gains that could be generated by engaging in risky business practices is sufficiently mitigated to discourage excessive and inappropriate risk taking. Management believes that both the stability and the long term growth in revenues, net revenues and net earnings are a result of the incentives inherent in the Company’s compensation program.

Other overhead expenses increased 12% and 15%, respectively, for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011, as compared with the same periods in 2010, primarily as a result of higher business taxes, travel and other expenses related to increased activity. Legal and related expenses during the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011, remained constant as compared to the same periods in 2010. The Company will continue to incur legal costs related to the anti-competition allegations as described in Part II—Item 1 in this report on Form 10-Q entitled “Legal Proceedings”, until these legal proceedings are concluded. If the governmental regulatory agencies conclude that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior or in the event of an adverse judgment in the class action lawsuit, such judgments, fines and/or penalties could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. Further, the Company routinely incurs costs to conduct periodic reviews of the operations and procedures of its offices worldwide relating to compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Other overhead expenses as a percentage of net revenues remained fairly constant for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011, as compared with the same periods in 2010.

Other income, net, increased $14 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2011, largely attributed to foreign exchange gains in 2011 as compared to foreign exchange losses in 2010. For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010, the $6 million increase in other income, net is primarily due to higher foreign exchange gains in 2011 as compared to 2010. These net foreign exchange gains in 2011 resulted primarily from U.S. dollar accounts receivable in non U.S dollar-based subsidiaries, as the U.S. dollar appreciated against other currencies at the end of the third quarter of 2011.

The Company pays income taxes in the United States and other jurisdictions, as well as other taxes which are typically included in costs of operations. The Company’s consolidated effective income tax rate of 39.7% and 39.3%, respectively, for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011, remained fairly consistent, as compared to 39.8% and 39.9%, respectively, for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010.

Currency and Other Risk Factors

International air/ocean freight forwarding and customs brokerage are intensively competitive and are expected to remain so for the foreseeable future. There are a large number of entities competing in the international logistics industry; however, the Company’s primary competition is confined to a relatively small number of companies within this group. Historically, the industry has experienced consolidations into larger firms striving for stronger and more complete multinational and multi-service networks. However, regional and local broker/forwarders remain a competitive force.

The primary competitive factors in the international logistics industry continue to be price and quality of service, including reliability, responsiveness, expertise, convenience, and scope of operations. The Company emphasizes quality customer service and believes that its prices are competitive with those of others in the industry. Larger customers utilize more sophisticated and efficient procedures for the management of their logistics supply chain by embracing strategies such as just-in-time inventory management. The Company believes that this trend has resulted in customers using fewer service providers with greater technological capacity and more consistent global coverage. Accordingly, sophisticated computerized customer service capabilities and a stable worldwide network have become significant factors in attracting and retaining customers.

Developing these systems and a worldwide network has added a considerable indirect cost to the services provided to customers. Smaller and middle-tier competitors, in general, do not have the resources available to develop customized systems and a worldwide network.

17

The nature of the Company’s worldwide operations necessitates the Company dealing with a multitude of currencies other than the U.S. dollar. This results in the Company being exposed to the inherent risks of volatile international currency markets and governmental interference. Some of the countries where the Company maintains offices and/or agency relationships have strict currency control regulations which influence the Company’s ability to hedge foreign currency exposure. The Company tries to compensate for these exposures by accelerating international currency settlements among its offices or agents. The Company enters into foreign currency hedging transactions only in limited locations where there are regulatory or commercial limitations on the Company’s ability to move money freely around the world or the short-term financial outlook in any country is such that hedging is the most time-sensitive way to mitigate short-term exchange losses. Any such hedging activity during the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011 and 2010 was insignificant. During the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011, net foreign currency gains were approximately $4,972 and $4,642, respectively. For the same periods of 2010, the Company's net foreign currency losses were approximately $2,878 and net foreign currency gains were approximately $1,071, respectively. The Company had no foreign currency derivatives outstanding at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

Geographic Coverage

During the third quarter of 2011, the Company opened one full service office in Pusan, Korea (formerly a satellite office) and closed one satellite office in Tiruppur, India.

Acquisitions - Historically, growth through aggressive acquisition has proven to be a challenge for many of the Company’s competitors and typically involves the purchase of significant “goodwill,” the value of which can be realized in large measure only by retaining the customers and profit margins of the acquired business. As a result, the Company has pursued a strategy emphasizing organic growth supplemented by certain strategic acquisitions, where future economic benefit significantly exceeds the “goodwill” recorded in the transaction.

Internal Growth - Management believes that a comparison of “same store” results is critical in the evaluation of the quality and extent of the Company’s internally generated growth. The “same store” analysis isolates the financial contributions from offices that have been included in the Company’s operating results for at least one full year. There were no significant differences between the “same store” analysis and the Company’s results for the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011 and 2010.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s principal source of liquidity is cash and cash equivalents and cash generated from operating activities. Net cash provided by operating activities for the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011, was approximately $93 million and $349 million, respectively, as compared with $113 million and $261 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2010. The decrease of $20 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2011, is primarily due to higher net earnings offset by changes in working capital accounts. The increase of $88 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011 is primarily due to higher net earnings and improvements in working capital. At September 30, 2011, working capital was $1,447 million, including cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $1,261 million. The Company had no long-term debt at September 30, 2011.

The Company’s business is subject to seasonal fluctuations. Cash flow fluctuates as a result of this seasonality. Historically, the first quarter shows an excess of customer collections over customer billings. This results in positive cash flow. The increased activity associated with peak season (typically commencing late second or early third quarter) causes an excess of customer billings over customer collections. This cyclical growth in customer receivables consumes available cash.

As a customs broker, the Company makes significant cash advances for a select group of credit-worthy customers. These cash advances are for customer obligations such as the payment of duties to customs authorities in various countries throughout the world. Cash advances are a “pass through” and are not recorded as a component of revenue or expense. The billings of such advances to customers are accounted for as a direct increase in accounts receivable from the customer and a corresponding increase in accounts payable to governmental customs authorities. As a result of these “pass through” billings, the conventional Days Sales Outstanding or DSO calculation does not directly measure collection efficiency.

Cash used in investing activities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, was $21 million and $61 million, respectively. The largest use of cash in investing activities is cash paid for capital expenditures. The Company does have need, on occasion, to purchase or construct buildings to house staff and to facilitate the staging of customers’ freight. The Company routinely invests in technology, office furniture and equipment and leasehold improvements. In the third quarter of 2011, the Company made capital expenditures of $21 million, as compared with $11 million for the same period in 2010. Capital expenditures in the third quarter of 2011 related primarily to investments in real estate, buildings and leasehold improvements, technology, and office furniture and equipment. Total capital expenditures in 2011 are currently estimated to be $80 million. This includes normal capital expenditures as noted above plus additional real estate development.

Cash used in financing activities during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, was $13 million and $103 million, as compared with $28 million and $110 million for each of the same periods in 2010. The Company uses the proceeds from stock option exercises and available cash to repurchase the Company’s common stock on the open market. In the third quarter of 2011, the Company continued its policy of repurchasing stock to limit growth in issued and outstanding shares as a result of stock option exercises. The decrease in cash used as a result of this policy for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011, as compared with the same periods in 2010, is primarily due to fewer stock option exercises in 2011. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company paid dividends of $.25 per share and $.20 per share, respectively.

The Company follows established guidelines relating to credit quality, diversification and maturities of its investments to preserve principal and maintain liquidity. The Company’s investment portfolio has not been adversely impacted by prior disruptions in the credit markets. However, there can be no assurance that the Company’s investment portfolio will not be adversely affected in the future.

The Company cannot forecast the impact that ongoing uncertainties in the global economy will have on its operating results. Management believes that the Company has effective credit control procedures, and historically has experienced relatively insignificant collection problems. The Company cannot predict what fallout any of the economic uncertainties may have on freight volumes, pricing, changes in consumer demand, supplier stability and capacity or on customers’ abilities to pay.

The Company maintains international unsecured bank lines of credit. At September 30, 2011, the international bank lines of credit totaled $18 million. At September 30, 2011, the Company had no amounts outstanding on these lines of credit. The Company was contingently liable for $94 million from standby letters of credit and guarantees. The standby letters of credit and guarantees relate to obligations of the Company’s subsidiaries for credit extended in the ordinary course of business by direct carriers, primarily airlines, and for duty and tax deferrals available from governmental entities responsible for customs and value-added-tax (VAT) taxation. The total underlying amounts due and payable for transportation and governmental excises are properly recorded as obligations in the books of the respective subsidiaries, and there would be no need to record additional expense in the unlikely event the parent company were to be required to perform.

Management believes that the Company’s current cash position and operating cash flows will be sufficient to meet its capital and liquidity requirements for the foreseeable future, including meeting any contingencies, contingent liabilities related to standby letters of credit and other obligations.

The Company's foreign subsidiaries regularly remit dividends to the U.S. parent company after evaluating their working capital requirements and needs to finance local capital expenditures. In some cases, the Company’s ability to repatriate funds from foreign operations may be subject to foreign exchange controls. At September 30, 2011, cash and cash equivalent balances of $586 million were held by the Company’s non-United States subsidiaries, of which $61 million was held in banks in the United States. A deferred tax liability has been accrued for the earnings that are available to be repatriated.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company is exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of its business. These risks are primarily related to foreign exchange risk and changes in short-term interest rates. The potential impact of the Company’s exposure to these risks is presented below:

Foreign Exchange Risk

The Company conducts business in many different countries and currencies. The Company’s business often results in revenue billings issued in a country and currency which differs from that where the expenses related to the service are incurred. In the ordinary course of business, the Company creates numerous intercompany transactions and may have receivables, payables and currencies that are not denominated in the local functional currency. This brings foreign exchange risk to the Company’s earnings.

Foreign exchange rate sensitivity analysis can be quantified by estimating the impact on the Company’s earnings as a result of hypothetical changes in the value of the U.S. dollar, the Company’s functional currency, relative to the other currencies in which the Company transacts business. All other things being equal, an average 10% weakening of the U.S. dollar, throughout the nine months ended September 30, 2011, would have had the effect of raising operating income approximately $33 million. An average 10% strengthening of the U.S. dollar, for the same period, would have the effect of reducing operating income approximately $27 million. This analysis does not take into account changes in shipping patterns based upon this hypothetical currency fluctuation. For example, a weakening in the U.S. dollar would be expected to increase exports from the United States and decrease imports into the United States over some relevant period of time, but the exact effect of this change cannot be quantified without making speculative assumptions.

As of September 30, 2011, the Company had approximately $2 million of net unsettled intercompany transactions. The Company currently does not use derivative financial instruments to manage foreign currency risk and only enters into foreign currency hedging transactions in limited locations where regulatory or commercial limitations restrict the Company’s ability to move money freely. Any such hedging activity during the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011 and 2010 was insignificant. During the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011, net foreign currency gains were approximately $4,972 and $4,642, respectively. For the same periods of 2010, the Company's net foreign currency losses were approximately $2,878 and net foreign currency gains were approximately $1,071, respectively. The Company had no foreign currency derivatives outstanding at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. The Company instead follows a policy of accelerating international currency settlements to manage foreign exchange risk relative to intercompany billings. The majority of intercompany billings are resolved within 30 days and intercompany billings arising in the normal course of business are fully settled within 90 days.

Interest Rate Risk

At September 30, 2011, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $1,261 million of which $805 million was invested at various short-term market interest rates. The Company had no short-term borrowings at September 30, 2011. A hypothetical change in the interest rate of 10 basis points would not have a significant impact on the Company’s earnings. In management’s opinion, there has been no material change in the Company’s interest rate risk exposure in the third quarter of 2011.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Controls and Procedures

The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in the Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Controls

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

The Company's management has confidence in the Company’s internal controls and procedures. Nevertheless, the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that the Company’s disclosure procedures and controls or the Company’s internal controls will prevent all errors or intentional fraud. An internal control system, no matter how well-conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of such internal controls are met. Further, the design of an internal control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all internal control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all the Company’s control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

On October 10, 2007, the U. S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a subpoena ordering the Company to produce certain information and records relating to an investigation of alleged anti-competitive behavior amongst air cargo freight forwarders. As part of this process, the Company has met with and continues to co-operate with the DOJ. The Company expects to incur additional costs during the course of this ongoing investigation, which could include fines and/or penalties if the DOJ concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior and such fines and/or penalties could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. At this time the Company is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible fines and/or penalties, if any, that might result from this investigation.

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On January 3, 2008, the Company was named as a defendant, with seven other European and North American-based global logistics providers, in a Federal antitrust class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of New York, Precision Associates, Inc. et al v. Panalpina World Transport, No. 08-CV0042. On July 21, 2009, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding a number of new third party defendants and various claims which they assert to violate the Sherman Act. The plaintiffs' amended complaint, which purports to be brought on behalf of a class of customers (and has not yet been certified), asserts claims that the defendants engaged in price fixing regarding eight discrete surcharges in violation of the Sherman Act. The allegations concerning the Company relate to two of these surcharges. The amended complaint seeks unspecified damages and injunctive relief. The Company believes that these allegations are without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself against these allegations. On August 13, 2009, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint for failure to state a claim. Plaintiffs filed their opposition to the Company's motion on January 30, 2010. On January 4, 2011, the Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation to dismiss the claims against the Company and others, but allowed the plaintiffs' the opportunity to further amend the complaint. The Report and Recommendation is now pending before the Court for resolution. The Company expects to incur ongoing attorneys' fees and other defense costs and, if there is an adverse judgment, monetary damages could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. At this time the Company has no way of predicting the ultimate outcome of this proceeding and is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible loss or damages, if any, that might result as an outcome of this proceeding.

On June 18, 2008, the European Commission (EC) issued a request for information to the Company's UK subsidiary, Expeditors International (UK) Ltd., requesting certain information relating to an ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On February 18, 2009, the EC issued another request for information to the same subsidiary requesting certain additional information in connection with the EC's ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On February 10, 2010, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary, Expeditors Hong Kong Limited, received a Statement of Objections (SO) from the EC. The SO initiates a proceeding against the Company alleging anti-competitive behavior contrary to European Union rules on competition. Specific to the Company, the allegations in the SO are limited to the period from August 2005 to June 2006 and only concern airfreight trade lanes between South China/Hong Kong and the European Economic Area. The Company filed a response to the allegations in the SO on April 12, 2010 and participated in an oral hearing on July 6, 2010. On January 20, 2011, the EC issued another request for information to the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary requesting certain additional information in connection with its on-going investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On October 25, 2011, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary received a standard letter from the EC regarding its ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The letter (i) invited comment on the EC's January 20, 2011 request for information and (ii) indicated potential revenue data it may take into account for the calculation of any fine it may impose. The Company expects to incur ongoing attorneys' fees and other defense costs during the course of this ongoing proceeding. Administrative fines, if the EC concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior, could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. The Company continues to vigorously defend itself against the allegations, and at this time, the Company has no way of predicting the ultimate outcome of this proceeding. Further, the Company is unable to estimate the range of a reasonably possible fine, if any, that might result from this proceeding.

On August 17, 2010, the Company and its Brazilian subsidiary, Expeditors Internacional do Brasil Ltda received an Administrative Proceeding (AP) from the Brazilian Ministry of Justice (MOJ). The AP initiates a proceeding against the Company and one of its employees, alleging possible anti-competitive behavior. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself against the allegations. The Company expects to incur additional costs during the course of this proceeding, which could include administrative fines if the MOJ concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior and such fines could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. At this time the Company is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible fines, if any, that might result from this proceeding.

No amounts have been accrued for any of the contingencies described above. Legal and associated costs incurred by the Company on the above matters were not significant for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Since the beginning of the proceedings in 2007, the Company has incurred approximately $16 million in legal and associated costs on the above matters. These government investigations and the related litigation matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. An unfavorable ruling could include substantial monetary damages and, in matters in which injunctive relief or other conduct remedies are sought, an injunction or other order relating to business conduct. Were unfavorable final outcomes to occur, the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for the particular quarter or year could be materially harmed.

The Company is involved in other claims and lawsuits which arise in the ordinary course of business, none of which currently, in management's opinion, will have a significant effect on the Company's operations or financial position.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in the Company’s risk factors from those disclosed in the report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2011, except for the following:

RISK FACTOR

DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANCE

Technology

Increasingly, the Company must compete based upon the flexibility and sophistication of the technologies utilized in performing its core businesses. Future results depend upon the Company's success in the cost effective development, maintenance and integration of secure communication and information system technologies, including those acquired from and maintained by third parties. Any significant disruptions to these systems due to failures, attacks or other security breaches could negatively affect the Company's results.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Period	Total number of shares purchased	Average price paid per share		Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs	Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under  the plans or programs
July 1-31, 2011	—	$	—	—	29,723,519
August 1-31, 2011	765,277	43.75		765,277	29,217,304
September 1-30, 2011	231,670	42.39		231,670	28,900,574
Total	996,947	$	43.43	996,947	28,900,574

In November 1993, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan for the purpose of repurchasing the Company’s common stock in the open market with the proceeds received from the exercise of stock options and employee stock purchase rights. On February 9, 2009, the Plan was further amended to increase the authorization to repurchase up to 40 million shares of the Company’s common stock. This authorization has no expiration date. This plan was disclosed in the Company’s report on Form 10-K filed March 31, 1995. In the third quarter of 2011, 716,544 shares of common stock were repurchased under the Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan.

In November 2001, under a Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of such shares as may be necessary to reduce the issued and outstanding stock to 200 million shares of common stock. The maximum number of shares available for repurchase under this plan will increase as the total number of outstanding shares increases. This authorization has no expiration date. This plan was announced on November 13, 2001. In the third quarter of 2011, 280,403 shares of common stock were repurchased under the Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan. These discretionary repurchases were made to limit the growth in the number of issued and outstanding shares resulting from stock option exercises and the exercise of employee stock purchase rights.

Item 5. Other Information

(a) Not applicable.

(b) Not applicable.

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Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

Exhibit Number	Description
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS	Instance Document
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

21

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
November 7, 2011	/s/ PETER J. ROSE
	Peter J. Rose, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
November 7, 2011	/s/ BRADLEY S. POWELL
	Bradley S. Powell, Chief Financial Officer

22

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Form 10-Q Index and Exhibits

September 30, 2011

Exhibit Number	Description
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS	Instance Document
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

23

EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Peter J. Rose, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

d) Disclosed in this quarterly report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting;

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 7, 2011

/S/ PETER J. ROSE

Peter J. Rose

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Bradley S. Powell, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this quarterly report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting;

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 7, 2011

/S/ BRADLEY S. POWELL

Bradley S. Powell

Chief Financial Officer

EX-32

EXHIBIT 32

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), we, Peter J. Rose, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Bradley S. Powell, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

November 7, 2011	/S/ PETER J. ROSE
	Peter J. Rose Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
November 7, 2011	/S/ BRADLEY S. POWELL
	Bradley S. Powell Chief Financial Officer

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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 11,211	$ 14,636
Property and Equipment, accumulated depreciation	$ 290,720	$ 281,651
Preferred Stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares issued	211,979,262	212,047,774
Common stock, shares outstanding	211,979,262	212,047,774

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Revenues:
Airfreight services	$ 736,946	$ 751,555	$ 2,187,730	$ 2,043,819
Ocean freight and ocean services	510,521	599,280	1,437,493	1,474,137
Customs brokerage and other services	358,901	316,724	1,023,361	867,482
Total revenues	1,606,368	1,667,559	4,648,584	4,385,438
Operating Expenses:
Airfreight consolidation	558,047	578,924	1,658,963	1,577,289
Ocean freight consolidation	392,249	488,808	1,109,603	1,190,627
Customs brokerage and other services	162,226	141,084	459,696	378,098
Salaries and related costs	258,512	235,357	745,441	656,310
Rent and occupancy costs	21,352	19,295	64,087	57,221
Depreciation and amortization	9,199	9,085	27,630	27,590
Selling and promotion	9,342	7,877	28,527	22,462
Other	31,683	27,508	91,374	77,183
Total operating expenses	1,442,610	1,507,938	4,185,321	3,986,780
Operating income	163,758	159,621	463,263	398,658
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	2,888	1,679	7,520	4,938
Interest expense	(279)	(140)	(722)	(378)
Other, net	10,792	(1,666)	12,766	9,231
Other income (expense), net	13,401	(127)	19,564	13,791
Earnings before income taxes	177,159	159,494	482,827	412,449
Income tax expense	70,283	63,456	189,724	164,692
Net earnings	106,876	96,038	293,103	247,757
Less: net earnings (losses) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	272	(67)	267	87
Net earnings attributable to shareholders	$ 106,604	$ 96,105	$ 292,836	$ 247,670
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$ 0.50	$ 0.44	$ 1.36	$ 1.14
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$ 0.50	$ 0.45	$ 1.38	$ 1.17
Dividends declared and paid per common share	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.25	$ 0.20
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	214,717,451	216,342,380	215,376,675	216,497,838
Weighted average basic shares outstanding	212,256,119	212,392,286	212,160,994	212,306,521

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Numerator and Denominator of the Basic and Diluted Per Share Computations for Earnings Attributable to Shareholders Per Share (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Net Earnings Attributable to Shareholders
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$ 106,604	$ 96,105	$ 292,836	$ 247,670
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$ 106,604	$ 96,105	$ 292,836	$ 247,670
Weighted Average Shares
Weighted average basic shares outstanding	212,256,119	212,392,286	212,160,994	212,306,521
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	2,461,332	3,950,094	3,215,681	4,191,317
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	214,717,451	216,342,380	215,376,675	216,497,838
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$ 0.50	$ 0.45	$ 1.38	$ 1.17
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$ 0.50	$ 0.44	$ 1.36	$ 1.14

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Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Nov. 01, 2011
Entity Registrant Name	EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000746515
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Trading Symbol	EXPD
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		212,029,613

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Components of Equity and Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Disclosure Components of Equity and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustments, tax	$ 13,476	$ 11,984	$ 5,621	$ 2,303
Reclassification adjustments for foreign currency realized losses, tax	$ (391)	$ 0	$ (391)	$ 0

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Business Segment Information

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Business Segment Information

Business Segment Information

The Company is organized functionally in geographic operating segments. Accordingly, management focuses its attention on revenues, net revenues, operating income, identifiable assets, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization and equity generated in each of these geographical areas when evaluating the effectiveness of geographic management. The Company charges its subsidiaries and affiliates for services rendered in the United States on a cost recovery basis. Transactions among the Company’s various offices are conducted using the same arms-length pricing methodologies the Company uses when its offices transact business with independent agents.

Financial information regarding the Company’s operations by geographic area are as follows:

(in thousands)	UNITED STATES		OTHER NORTH AMERICA	LATIN AMERICA	ASIA PACIFIC	EUROPE and AFRICA	MIDDLE EAST and INDIA	ELIMI- NATIONS		CONSOLI- DATED
Three months ended September 30, 2011:
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	388,736	49,341	21,353	839,069	229,776	78,093	—		1,606,368
Transfers between geographic areas	27,161		2,989	5,025	10,500	10,727	4,596	(60,998	)	—
Total revenues	$	415,897	52,330	26,378	849,569	240,503	82,689	(60,998	)	1,606,368
Net revenues	$	189,381	23,783	15,035	162,785	77,768	25,094	—		493,846
Operating income	$	57,564	7,345	4,846	69,001	18,616	6,386	—		163,758
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	1,509,393	87,554	52,058	667,421	414,991	149,253	2,499		2,883,169
Capital expenditures	$	7,435	315	162	7,201	4,981	525	—		20,619
Depreciation and amortization	$	4,904	250	240	1,822	1,488	495	—		9,199
Equity	$	1,242,594	49,134	27,258	426,164	146,652	92,668	(22,412	)	1,962,058
Three months ended September 30, 2010:
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	361,120	43,380	20,400	968,858	190,350	83,451	—		1,667,559
Transfers between geographic areas	28,571		3,567	4,190	8,593	11,045	4,448	(60,414	)	—
Total revenues	$	389,691	46,947	24,590	977,451	201,395	87,899	(60,414	)	1,667,559
Net revenues	$	179,290	20,911	13,181	153,241	68,158	23,962	—		458,743
Operating income	$	61,735	6,846	3,837	64,046	17,128	6,029	—		159,621
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	1,437,318	78,347	48,887	574,216	433,020	139,478	4,917		2,716,183
Capital expenditures	$	5,297	92	354	1,853	2,963	394	—		10,953
Depreciation and amortization	$	4,882	316	223	1,871	1,184	609	—		9,085
Equity	$	1,121,817	40,708	23,974	346,210	155,428	80,774	(32,793	)	1,736,118

(in thousands)	UNITED STATES		OTHER NORTH AMERICA	LATIN AMERICA	ASIA PACIFIC	EUROPE and AFRICA	MIDDLE EAST and INDIA	ELIMI- NATIONS		CONSOLI- DATED
Nine months ended September 30, 2011:
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	1,156,647	141,004	62,822	2,383,549	673,111	231,451	—		4,648,584
Transfers between geographic areas	77,099		8,454	15,866	29,853	32,789	13,305	(177,366	)	—
Total revenues	$	1,233,746	149,458	78,688	2,413,402	705,900	244,756	(177,366	)	4,648,584
Net revenues	$	548,918	66,065	45,295	454,889	230,521	74,634	—		1,420,322
Operating income	$	169,050	18,895	14,095	189,981	53,200	18,042	—		463,263
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	1,509,393	87,554	52,058	667,421	414,991	149,253	2,499		2,883,169
Capital expenditures	$	14,815	923	462	16,535	24,568	1,551	—		58,854
Depreciation and amortization	$	14,815	830	773	5,638	4,014	1,560	—		27,630
Equity	$	1,242,594	49,134	27,258	426,164	146,652	92,668	(22,412	)	1,962,058
Nine months ended September 30, 2010:
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	979,675	120,667	55,317	2,482,116	525,064	222,599	—		4,385,438
Transfers between geographic areas	72,743		7,722	12,082	23,861	29,407	11,918	(157,733	)	—
Total revenues	$	1,052,418	128,389	67,399	2,505,977	554,471	234,517	(157,733	)	4,385,438
Net revenues	$	489,231	56,757	37,428	397,678	192,135	66,195	—		1,239,424
Operating income	$	152,425	16,317	11,155	158,938	43,870	15,953	—		398,658
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	1,437,318	78,347	48,887	574,216	433,020	139,478	4,917		2,716,183
Capital expenditures	$	13,137	417	988	3,967	6,415	1,729	—		26,653
Depreciation and amortization	$	14,753	1,023	639	5,626	3,721	1,828	—		27,590
Equity	$	1,121,817	40,708	23,974	346,210	155,428	80,774	(32,793	)	1,736,118

In the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company changed its geographical area organization by incorporating the management of its Australasia region with its Asia region. Accordingly, the financial information of the Company’s Asia and Australasia segments, previously reported separately, have been combined in the Asia Pacific operating segment for all periods presented.

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Components Of Equity And Comprehensive Income - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Date of declaration of dividends	May 04, 2011	May 05, 2010
Dividend declared per share	$ 0.25	$ 0.20
Date of dividend payment	Jun. 15, 2011	Jun. 15, 2010
Dividends payable to shareholders date of record	Jun. 01, 2011	Jun. 01, 2010
Dividend Declared [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Date of declaration of dividends	Oct. 31, 2011
Dividend declared per share	$ 0.25
Date of dividend payment	Dec. 15, 2011
Dividends payable to shareholders date of record	Dec. 01, 2011

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Components of Equity and Comprehensive Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Beginning Balance			$ 1,748,154	$ 1,561,347
Exercise of stock options			30,367	40,408
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan			24,224	20,550
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans			(108,572)	(139,450)
Stock compensation expense			33,446	33,047
Tax benefits from stock plans			5,068	11,589
Comprehensive Income:
Net earnings	106,876	96,038	293,103	247,757
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(24,707)	21,983	(10,514)	4,230
Reclassification adjustments for foreign currency realized losses, net of tax	618	0	618	0
Total comprehensive income	82,787	118,021	283,207	251,987
Ending Balance	1,962,058	1,736,118	1,962,058	1,736,118
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	59	71	(87)	119
Comprehensive income attributable to shareholders	82,728	117,950	283,294	251,868
Dividends paid			(53,014)	(42,397)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest			(822)	(963)
Shareholders' equity
Beginning Balance			1,740,906	1,553,007
Exercise of stock options			30,367	40,408
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan			24,224	20,550
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans			(108,572)	(139,450)
Stock compensation expense			33,446	33,047
Tax benefits from stock plans			5,068	11,589
Comprehensive Income:
Net earnings			292,836	247,670
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax			(10,160)	4,198
Reclassification adjustments for foreign currency realized losses, net of tax			618
Total comprehensive income			283,294	251,868
Ending Balance	1,955,719	1,728,622	1,955,719	1,728,622
Dividends paid			(53,014)	(42,397)
Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning Balance			7,248	8,340
Comprehensive Income:
Net earnings			267	87
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax			(354)	32
Total comprehensive income			(87)	119
Ending Balance	6,339	7,496	6,339	7,496
Distributions to noncontrolling interest			$ (822)	$ (963)

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Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Schedule of Fair value of Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short Term investments, by Balance Sheet Grouping

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments consist of the following:

	September 30, 2011				December 31, 2010
	Cost		Fair Value		Cost		Fair Value
Cash and Cash Equivalents:
Cash and overnight deposits	$	456,389	$	456,389	$	443,716	$	443,716
Corporate commercial paper	743,388		743,488		571,260		571,373
Time deposits	61,037		61,037		69,489		69,489
Total cash and cash equivalents	1,260,814		1,260,914		1,084,465		1,084,578
Short-Term Investments:
Time deposits	483		483		524		524
Total	$	1,261,297	$	1,261,397	$	1,084,989	$	1,085,102

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Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Disclosure Numerator and Denominator of the Basic and Diluted Per Share Computations for Earnings Attributable to Shareholders Per Share [Abstract]

Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

The following table reconciles the numerator and the denominator of the basic and diluted per share computations for earnings attributable to shareholders per share:

	Three months ended
	September 30,
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)	Net earnings attributable to shareholders		Weighted average shares	Earnings per share
2011
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	106,604	212,256,119	$	.50
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		2,461,332	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	106,604	214,717,451	$	.50
2010
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	96,105	212,392,286	$	.45
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		3,950,094	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	96,105	216,342,380	$	.44

	Nine months ended
	September 30,
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)	Net earnings attributable to shareholders		Weighted average shares	Earnings per share
2011
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	292,836	212,160,994	$	1.38
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		3,215,681	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	292,836	215,376,675	$	1.36
2010
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	247,670	212,306,521	$	1.17
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		4,191,317	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	247,670	216,497,838	$	1.14

The following shares have been excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been antidilutive:

	Three months ended		Nine months ended
	September 30,		September 30,
	2011	2010	2011	2010
Shares	8,550,014	10,975,415	7,281,935	10,975,415

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Share-Based Compensation (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Assumptions To Estimate Fair Value Of Option Grant On Date Of Grant Using Black Scholes Option Pricing Model

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing with the following assumptions:

	Nine months ended September 30,
	2011			2010
Dividend yield	.97 - .98%			1.07 - 1.08%
Volatility - stock option plans	38 - 40%			38 - 40%
Volatility - stock purchase rights plans	26		%	29		%
Risk free interest rates	.19 - 2.84%			.29 - 2.86%
Expected life (years) - stock option plans	5.50 - 7.11			5.44 - 6.90
Expected life (years) - stock purchase rights plans	1			1
Weighted average fair value of stock options granted during the period	$	19.35		$	14.51
Weighted average fair value of stock purchase rights granted during the period	$	11.70		$	11.16

Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs

Total stock compensation expense and the total related tax benefit recognized are as follows:

	Three months ended				Nine months ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2011		2010		2011		2010
Stock compensation expense	$	12,738	$	10,846	$	33,446	$	33,047
Recognized tax benefit	$	40	$	39	$	117	$	148

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 11,211	$ 14,636

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Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings Per Share

The following table reconciles the numerator and the denominator of the basic and diluted per share computations for earnings attributable to shareholders per share:

	Three months ended
	September 30,
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)	Net earnings attributable to shareholders		Weighted average shares	Earnings per share
2011
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	106,604	212,256,119	$	.50
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		2,461,332	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	106,604	214,717,451	$	.50
2010
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	96,105	212,392,286	$	.45
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		3,950,094	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	96,105	216,342,380	$	.44

	Nine months ended
	September 30,
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)	Net earnings attributable to shareholders		Weighted average shares	Earnings per share
2011
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	292,836	212,160,994	$	1.38
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		3,215,681	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	292,836	215,376,675	$	1.36
2010
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	247,670	212,306,521	$	1.17
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		4,191,317	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	247,670	216,497,838	$	1.14

Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share

The following shares have been excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been antidilutive:

	Three months ended		Nine months ended
	September 30,		September 30,
	2011	2010	2011	2010
Shares	8,550,014	10,975,415	7,281,935	10,975,415

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Basis of Presentation, Policy

A. Basis of Presentation

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (“the Company”) is a non-asset based provider of global logistics services operating through a worldwide network of offices, international service centers and exclusive or non-exclusive agents. The Company’s customers include retailing and wholesaling, electronics, and manufacturing companies around the world.

The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) have been condensed or omitted. The Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring items, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2011. Certain 2010 amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2011 presentation. All dollar amounts in the notes are presented in thousands except for share data.

All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Accounts Receivable, Policy

B. Accounts Receivable

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts, which is reviewed at least monthly for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments for services and advances. Additional allowances may be necessary in the future if the ability of its customers to pay deteriorates. The Company has recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts in the amounts of $11,211 as of September 30, 2011 and $14,636 as of December 31, 2010. Additions and write-offs have not been significant in the periods presented.

Comprehensive Income (Loss), Policy

C. Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of net earnings and other gains and losses affecting equity that, under U.S. GAAP, are excluded from net earnings. For the Company, these consist of foreign currency translation gains and losses, net of related income tax effects and comprehensive income or loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests.

Estimates and Assumptions, Policy

D. Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. The Company uses estimates primarily in the following areas: accounts receivable valuation, accrual of costs related to ancillary services the Company provides, accrual of insurance liabilities for the portion of the freight related exposure which the Company has self-insured, accrual of various tax liabilities, accrual of loss contingencies and calculation of share-based compensation expense. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted, Policy

E. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-No. 05 “Presentation of Comprehensive Income”, which amends Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 220 -”Comprehensive Income”. This update is intended to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income by giving the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The Company is required to and plans to adopt the provisions of ASU 2011-No. 05 beginning in the first quarter of 2012. The adoption is only expected to have a presentation impact on the Company's consolidated statements of earnings and consolidated statements of equity and comprehensive income.

Description of impact of Newly Adopted Accounting Pronouncements, Policy

In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009–No. 13 “Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements”, which amends ASC Topic 605 –”Revenue Recognition”. This update provides amendments to the criteria for separating deliverables, measuring and allocating arrangement consideration to one or more units of accounting. This update establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. ASU 2009–No. 13 is effective for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2009–No. 13 beginning in the first quarter of 2011. The adoption had no material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

Stock Plans, Policy

The Company recognizes stock compensation expense based on the estimated fair value of awards granted to employees and directors under the Company’s stock option, director restricted stock and employee stock purchase rights plans. The expense, adjusted for expected forfeitures, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the stock awards' vesting period. The forfeiture assumption used to calculate compensation expense is primarily based on historical pre-vesting employee forfeiture patterns.

Segment Reporting, Policy

The Company is organized functionally in geographic operating segments. Accordingly, management focuses its attention on revenues, net revenues, operating income, identifiable assets, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization and equity generated in each of these geographical areas when evaluating the effectiveness of geographic management. The Company charges its subsidiaries and affiliates for services rendered in the United States on a cost recovery basis. Transactions among the Company’s various offices are conducted using the same arms-length pricing methodologies the Company uses when its offices transact business with independent agents.

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

A. Basis of Presentation

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (“the Company”) is a non-asset based provider of global logistics services operating through a worldwide network of offices, international service centers and exclusive or non-exclusive agents. The Company’s customers include retailing and wholesaling, electronics, and manufacturing companies around the world.

The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) have been condensed or omitted. The Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring items, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2011. Certain 2010 amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2011 presentation. All dollar amounts in the notes are presented in thousands except for share data.

All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

B. Accounts Receivable

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts, which is reviewed at least monthly for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments for services and advances. Additional allowances may be necessary in the future if the ability of its customers to pay deteriorates. The Company has recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts in the amounts of $11,211 as of September 30, 2011 and $14,636 as of December 31, 2010. Additions and write-offs have not been significant in the periods presented.

C. Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of net earnings and other gains and losses affecting equity that, under U.S. GAAP, are excluded from net earnings. For the Company, these consist of foreign currency translation gains and losses, net of related income tax effects and comprehensive income or loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests.

D. Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. The Company uses estimates primarily in the following areas: accounts receivable valuation, accrual of costs related to ancillary services the Company provides, accrual of insurance liabilities for the portion of the freight related exposure which the Company has self-insured, accrual of various tax liabilities, accrual of loss contingencies and calculation of share-based compensation expense. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

E. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-No. 05 “Presentation of Comprehensive Income”, which amends Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 220 -”Comprehensive Income”. This update is intended to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income by giving the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The Company is required to and plans to adopt the provisions of ASU 2011-No. 05 beginning in the first quarter of 2012. The adoption is only expected to have a presentation impact on the Company's consolidated statements of earnings and consolidated statements of equity and comprehensive income.

In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009–No. 13 “Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements”, which amends ASC Topic 605 –”Revenue Recognition”. This update provides amendments to the criteria for separating deliverables, measuring and allocating arrangement consideration to one or more units of accounting. This update establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. ASU 2009–No. 13 is effective for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2009–No. 13 beginning in the first quarter of 2011. The adoption had no material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

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Components of Equity and Comprehensive Income

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Components of Equity and Comprehensive Income

Components of Equity and Comprehensive Income

The components of equity for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

	Shareholders’ equity			Noncontrolling interest		Total equity
Balance at December 31, 2010	$	1,740,906		7,248		1,748,154
Exercise of stock options	30,367			—		30,367
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan	24,224			—		24,224
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans	(108,572		)	—		(108,572	)
Stock compensation expense	33,446			—		33,446
Tax benefits from stock plans	5,068			—		5,068
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	292,836			267		293,103
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $5,621	(10,160		)	(354	)	(10,514	)
Reclassification adjustments for foreign currency realized losses, net of tax of $391	618			—		618
Total comprehensive income	283,294			(87	)	283,207
Dividends paid ($.25 per share)	(53,014		)	—		(53,014	)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	—			(822	)	(822	)
Balance at September 30, 2011	$	1,955,719		6,339		1,962,058
Balance at December 31, 2009	$	1,553,007		8,340		1,561,347
Exercise of stock options	40,408			—		40,408
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan	20,550			—		20,550
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans	(139,450		)	—		(139,450	)
Stock compensation expense	33,047			—		33,047
Tax benefits from stock plans	11,589			—		11,589
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	247,670			87		247,757
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $2,303	4,198			32		4,230
Total comprehensive income	251,868			119		251,987
Dividends paid ($.20 per share)	(42,397		)	—		(42,397	)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	—			(963	)	(963	)
Balance at September 30, 2010	$	1,728,622		7,496		1,736,118

On May 4, 2011, the Board of Directors declared a semi-annual cash dividend of $.25 per share payable on June 15, 2011 to shareholders of record as of June 1, 2011. On May 5, 2010, the Board of Directors declared a semi-annual cash dividend of $.20 per share payable on June 15, 2010 to shareholders of record as of June 1, 2010.

Subsequent to the end of the quarter, on October 31, 2011, the board of Directors declared a semi-annual cash dividend of $.25 per share payable on December 15, 2011 to shareholders of record as of December 1, 2011.

The components of total comprehensive income for interim periods are as follows:

	Three months ended					Nine months ended
	September 30,					September 30,
	2011			2010		2011			2010
Net earnings	$	106,876		$	96,038	$	293,103		$	247,757
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $13,476 and $11,984 for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and $5,621 and $2,303 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010	(24,707		)	21,983		(10,514		)	4,230
Reclassification adjustments for foreign currency realized losses, net of tax of $391 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2011	618			—		618			—
Comprehensive income	82,787			118,021		283,207			251,987
Less: comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	59			71		(87		)	119
Comprehensive income attributable to shareholders	$	82,728		$	117,950	$	283,294		$	251,868

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Fair Value of Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments, other than cash, consist primarily of cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses. The carrying value of these financial instruments approximates their fair value. Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at date of purchase. Short term investments have a maturity of greater than three months at date of purchase. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments consist of the following:

	September 30, 2011				December 31, 2010
	Cost		Fair Value		Cost		Fair Value
Cash and Cash Equivalents:
Cash and overnight deposits	$	456,389	$	456,389	$	443,716	$	443,716
Corporate commercial paper	743,388		743,488		571,260		571,373
Time deposits	61,037		61,037		69,489		69,489
Total cash and cash equivalents	1,260,814		1,260,914		1,084,465		1,084,578
Short-Term Investments:
Time deposits	483		483		524		524
Total	$	1,261,297	$	1,261,397	$	1,084,989	$	1,085,102

The fair value of corporate commercial paper is based on the use of market interest rates for identical or similar assets.

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Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short Term Investments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,260,814	$ 1,225,830	$ 1,084,465	$ 1,057,226	$ 960,300	$ 925,929
Cost
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total cash and cash equivalents	1,260,814		1,084,465
Total	1,261,297		1,084,989
Cost | Cash and Cash Equivalents
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and overnight deposits	456,389		443,716
Corporate commercial paper	743,388		571,260
Time deposits	61,037		69,489
Cost | Short Term Investments
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Time deposits	483		524
Fair Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total	1,261,397		1,085,102
Fair Value | Cash and Cash Equivalents
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and overnight deposits	456,389		443,716
Corporate commercial paper	743,488		571,373
Time deposits	61,037		69,489
Total cash and cash equivalents	1,260,914		1,084,578
Fair Value | Short Term Investments
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Time deposits	$ 483		$ 524

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Financial Information Regarding Company's Operations by Geographic Area (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$ 1,606,368	$ 1,667,559	$ 4,648,584	$ 4,385,438
Total revenues	1,606,368	1,667,559	4,648,584	4,385,438
Net revenues	493,846	458,743	1,420,322	1,239,424
Operating income	163,758	159,621	463,263	398,658
Identifiable assets at quarter end	2,883,169	2,716,183	2,883,169	2,716,183	2,679,179
Capital expenditures	20,619	10,953	58,854	26,653
Depreciation and amortization	9,199	9,085	27,630	27,590
Equity	1,962,058	1,736,118	1,962,058	1,736,118	1,748,154	1,561,347
United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	388,736	361,120	1,156,647	979,675
Transfers between geographic areas	27,161	28,571	77,099	72,743
Total revenues	415,897	389,691	1,233,746	1,052,418
Net revenues	189,381	179,290	548,918	489,231
Operating income	57,564	61,735	169,050	152,425
Identifiable assets at quarter end	1,509,393	1,437,318	1,509,393	1,437,318
Capital expenditures	7,435	5,297	14,815	13,137
Depreciation and amortization	4,904	4,882	14,815	14,753
Equity	1,242,594	1,121,817	1,242,594	1,121,817
Other North America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	49,341	43,380	141,004	120,667
Transfers between geographic areas	2,989	3,567	8,454	7,722
Total revenues	52,330	46,947	149,458	128,389
Net revenues	23,783	20,911	66,065	56,757
Operating income	7,345	6,846	18,895	16,317
Identifiable assets at quarter end	87,554	78,347	87,554	78,347
Capital expenditures	315	92	923	417
Depreciation and amortization	250	316	830	1,023
Equity	49,134	40,708	49,134	40,708
Latin America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	21,353	20,400	62,822	55,317
Transfers between geographic areas	5,025	4,190	15,866	12,082
Total revenues	26,378	24,590	78,688	67,399
Net revenues	15,035	13,181	45,295	37,428
Operating income	4,846	3,837	14,095	11,155
Identifiable assets at quarter end	52,058	48,887	52,058	48,887
Capital expenditures	162	354	462	988
Depreciation and amortization	240	223	773	639
Equity	27,258	23,974	27,258	23,974
Asia Pacific
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	839,069	968,858	2,383,549	2,482,116
Transfers between geographic areas	10,500	8,593	29,853	23,861
Total revenues	849,569	977,451	2,413,402	2,505,977
Net revenues	162,785	153,241	454,889	397,678
Operating income	69,001	64,046	189,981	158,938
Identifiable assets at quarter end	667,421	574,216	667,421	574,216
Capital expenditures	7,201	1,853	16,535	3,967
Depreciation and amortization	1,822	1,871	5,638	5,626
Equity	426,164	346,210	426,164	346,210
Europe And Africa
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	229,776	190,350	673,111	525,064
Transfers between geographic areas	10,727	11,045	32,789	29,407
Total revenues	240,503	201,395	705,900	554,471
Net revenues	77,768	68,158	230,521	192,135
Operating income	18,616	17,128	53,200	43,870
Identifiable assets at quarter end	414,991	433,020	414,991	433,020
Capital expenditures	4,981	2,963	24,568	6,415
Depreciation and amortization	1,488	1,184	4,014	3,721
Equity	146,652	155,428	146,652	155,428
Middle East And India
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	78,093	83,451	231,451	222,599
Transfers between geographic areas	4,596	4,448	13,305	11,918
Total revenues	82,689	87,899	244,756	234,517
Net revenues	25,094	23,962	74,634	66,195
Operating income	6,386	6,029	18,042	15,953
Identifiable assets at quarter end	149,253	139,478	149,253	139,478
Capital expenditures	525	394	1,551	1,729
Depreciation and amortization	495	609	1,560	1,828
Equity	92,668	80,774	92,668	80,774
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Transfers between geographic areas	(60,998)	(60,414)	(177,366)	(157,733)
Total revenues	(60,998)	(60,414)	(177,366)	(157,733)
Identifiable assets at quarter end	2,499	4,917	2,499	4,917
Equity	$ (22,412)	$ (32,793)	$ (22,412)	$ (32,793)

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Business Segment Information (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment

Financial information regarding the Company’s operations by geographic area are as follows:

(in thousands)	UNITED STATES		OTHER NORTH AMERICA	LATIN AMERICA	ASIA PACIFIC	EUROPE and AFRICA	MIDDLE EAST and INDIA	ELIMI- NATIONS		CONSOLI- DATED
Three months ended September 30, 2011:
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	388,736	49,341	21,353	839,069	229,776	78,093	—		1,606,368
Transfers between geographic areas	27,161		2,989	5,025	10,500	10,727	4,596	(60,998	)	—
Total revenues	$	415,897	52,330	26,378	849,569	240,503	82,689	(60,998	)	1,606,368
Net revenues	$	189,381	23,783	15,035	162,785	77,768	25,094	—		493,846
Operating income	$	57,564	7,345	4,846	69,001	18,616	6,386	—		163,758
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	1,509,393	87,554	52,058	667,421	414,991	149,253	2,499		2,883,169
Capital expenditures	$	7,435	315	162	7,201	4,981	525	—		20,619
Depreciation and amortization	$	4,904	250	240	1,822	1,488	495	—		9,199
Equity	$	1,242,594	49,134	27,258	426,164	146,652	92,668	(22,412	)	1,962,058
Three months ended September 30, 2010:
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	361,120	43,380	20,400	968,858	190,350	83,451	—		1,667,559
Transfers between geographic areas	28,571		3,567	4,190	8,593	11,045	4,448	(60,414	)	—
Total revenues	$	389,691	46,947	24,590	977,451	201,395	87,899	(60,414	)	1,667,559
Net revenues	$	179,290	20,911	13,181	153,241	68,158	23,962	—		458,743
Operating income	$	61,735	6,846	3,837	64,046	17,128	6,029	—		159,621
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	1,437,318	78,347	48,887	574,216	433,020	139,478	4,917		2,716,183
Capital expenditures	$	5,297	92	354	1,853	2,963	394	—		10,953
Depreciation and amortization	$	4,882	316	223	1,871	1,184	609	—		9,085
Equity	$	1,121,817	40,708	23,974	346,210	155,428	80,774	(32,793	)	1,736,118

(in thousands)	UNITED STATES		OTHER NORTH AMERICA	LATIN AMERICA	ASIA PACIFIC	EUROPE and AFRICA	MIDDLE EAST and INDIA	ELIMI- NATIONS		CONSOLI- DATED
Nine months ended September 30, 2011:
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	1,156,647	141,004	62,822	2,383,549	673,111	231,451	—		4,648,584
Transfers between geographic areas	77,099		8,454	15,866	29,853	32,789	13,305	(177,366	)	—
Total revenues	$	1,233,746	149,458	78,688	2,413,402	705,900	244,756	(177,366	)	4,648,584
Net revenues	$	548,918	66,065	45,295	454,889	230,521	74,634	—		1,420,322
Operating income	$	169,050	18,895	14,095	189,981	53,200	18,042	—		463,263
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	1,509,393	87,554	52,058	667,421	414,991	149,253	2,499		2,883,169
Capital expenditures	$	14,815	923	462	16,535	24,568	1,551	—		58,854
Depreciation and amortization	$	14,815	830	773	5,638	4,014	1,560	—		27,630
Equity	$	1,242,594	49,134	27,258	426,164	146,652	92,668	(22,412	)	1,962,058
Nine months ended September 30, 2010:
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	979,675	120,667	55,317	2,482,116	525,064	222,599	—		4,385,438
Transfers between geographic areas	72,743		7,722	12,082	23,861	29,407	11,918	(157,733	)	—
Total revenues	$	1,052,418	128,389	67,399	2,505,977	554,471	234,517	(157,733	)	4,385,438
Net revenues	$	489,231	56,757	37,428	397,678	192,135	66,195	—		1,239,424
Operating income	$	152,425	16,317	11,155	158,938	43,870	15,953	—		398,658
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	1,437,318	78,347	48,887	574,216	433,020	139,478	4,917		2,716,183
Capital expenditures	$	13,137	417	988	3,967	6,415	1,729	—		26,653
Depreciation and amortization	$	14,753	1,023	639	5,626	3,721	1,828	—		27,590
Equity	$	1,121,817	40,708	23,974	346,210	155,428	80,774	(32,793	)	1,736,118

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Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Contingencies

Contingencies

On October 10, 2007, the U. S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a subpoena ordering the Company to produce certain information and records relating to an investigation of alleged anti-competitive behavior amongst air cargo freight forwarders. As part of this process, the Company has met with and continues to co-operate with the DOJ. The Company expects to incur additional costs during the course of this ongoing investigation, which could include fines and/or penalties if the DOJ concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior and such fines and/or penalties could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. At this time the Company is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible fines and/or penalties, if any, that might result from this investigation.

On January 3, 2008, the Company was named as a defendant, with seven other European and North American-based global logistics providers, in a Federal antitrust class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of New York, Precision Associates, Inc. et al v. Panalpina World Transport, No. 08-CV0042. On July 21, 2009, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding a number of new third party defendants and various claims which they assert to violate the Sherman Act. The plaintiffs' amended complaint, which purports to be brought on behalf of a class of customers (and has not yet been certified), asserts claims that the defendants engaged in price fixing regarding eight discrete surcharges in violation of the Sherman Act. The allegations concerning the Company relate to two of these surcharges. The amended complaint seeks unspecified damages and injunctive relief. The Company believes that these allegations are without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself against these allegations. On August 13, 2009, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint for failure to state a claim. Plaintiffs filed their opposition to the Company's motion on January 30, 2010. On January 4, 2011, the Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation to dismiss the claims against the Company and others, but allowed the plaintiffs' the opportunity to further amend the complaint. The Report and Recommendation is now pending before the Court for resolution. The Company expects to incur ongoing attorneys' fees and other defense costs and, if there is an adverse judgment, monetary damages could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. At this time the Company has no way of predicting the ultimate outcome of this proceeding and is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible loss or damages, if any, that might result as an outcome of this proceeding.

On June 18, 2008, the European Commission (EC) issued a request for information to the Company's UK subsidiary, Expeditors International (UK) Ltd., requesting certain information relating to an ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On February 18, 2009, the EC issued another request for information to the same subsidiary requesting certain additional information in connection with the EC's ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On February 10, 2010, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary, Expeditors Hong Kong Limited, received a Statement of Objections (SO) from the EC. The SO initiates a proceeding against the Company alleging anti-competitive behavior contrary to European Union rules on competition. Specific to the Company, the allegations in the SO are limited to the period from August 2005 to June 2006 and only concern airfreight trade lanes between South China/Hong Kong and the European Economic Area. The Company filed a response to the allegations in the SO on April 12, 2010 and participated in an oral hearing on July 6, 2010. On January 20, 2011, the EC issued another request for information to the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary requesting certain additional information in connection with its on-going investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On October 25, 2011, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary received a standard letter from the EC regarding its ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The letter (i) invited comment on the EC's January 20, 2011 request for information and (ii) indicated potential revenue data it may take into account for the calculation of any fine it may impose. The Company expects to incur ongoing attorneys' fees and other defense costs during the course of this ongoing proceeding. Administrative fines, if the EC concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior, could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. The Company continues to vigorously defend itself against the allegations, and at this time, the Company has no way of predicting the ultimate outcome of this proceeding. Further, the Company is unable to estimate the range of a reasonably possible fine, if any, that might result from this proceeding.

On August 17, 2010, the Company and its Brazilian subsidiary, Expeditors Internacional do Brasil Ltda received an Administrative Proceeding (AP) from the Brazilian Ministry of Justice (MOJ). The AP initiates a proceeding against the Company and one of its employees, alleging possible anti-competitive behavior. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself against the allegations. The Company expects to incur additional costs during the course of this proceeding, which could include administrative fines if the MOJ concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior and such fines could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. At this time the Company is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible fines, if any, that might result from this proceeding.

No amounts have been accrued for any of the contingencies described above. Legal and associated costs incurred by the Company on the above matters were not significant for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Since the beginning of the proceedings in 2007, the Company has incurred approximately $16 million in legal and associated costs on the above matters. These government investigations and the related litigation matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. An unfavorable ruling could include substantial monetary damages and, in matters in which injunctive relief or other conduct remedies are sought, an injunction or other order relating to business conduct. Were unfavorable final outcomes to occur, the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for the particular quarter or year could be materially harmed.

The Company is involved in other claims and lawsuits which arise in the ordinary course of business, none of which currently, in management's opinion, will have a significant effect on the Company's operations or financial position.

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Share-Based Compensation Assumptions To Estimate Fair Value of Option Grant on Date of Grant Using Black Scholes Option Pricing Model (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Risk free interest rates lower end	0.19%	0.29%
Risk free interest rates upper end	2.84%	2.86%
Weighted average fair value of stock options granted during period	$ 19.35	$ 14.51
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Volatility - stock purchase rights plans	26.00%	29.00%
Expected life (years) - stock purchase rights plans	1	1
Weighted average fair value of stock purchase rights granted during the period	$ 11.70	$ 11.16
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Volatility lower end - stock option plans	38.00%	38.00%
Volatility upper end - stock option plans	40.00%	40.00%
Expected life (years) lower end - stock option plans	5.50	5.44
Expected life (years) upper end - stock option plans	7.11	6.90
Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dividend yield	0.97%	1.07%
Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dividend yield	0.98%	1.08%

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Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (Loss Contingency - Anticompetitive Behavior Allegations, USD $) In Millions	48 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011
Loss Contingency - Anticompetitive Behavior Allegations
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Legal and associated costs	$ 16

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Operating Activities:
Net earnings	$ 106,876	$ 96,038	$ 293,103	$ 247,757
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	(629)	1,284	1,161	3,109
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	(9,328)	(565)	(9,663)	2,521
Excess tax benefits from stock plans	(537)	(3,470)	(5,068)	(11,589)
Stock compensation expense	12,738	10,846	33,446	33,047
Depreciation and amortization	9,199	9,085	27,630	27,590
Gain on sale of assets	(3)	(57)	(54)	(461)
Other	1,210	387	1,828	1,232
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Increase in accounts receivable	(4,312)	(34,203)	(11,802)	(266,770)
Increase in other current assets	(8,344)	(4,095)	(5,863)	(2,959)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(24,070)	25,330	14,060	190,440
Increase in income taxes payable, net	10,505	12,438	10,417	36,770
Net cash provided by operating activities	93,305	113,018	349,195	260,687
Investing Activities:
Decrease in short-term investments, net	561	137	23	107
Purchase of property and equipment	(20,619)	(10,953)	(58,854)	(26,653)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	24	98	109	268
Other	(1,193)	1,208	(2,699)	313
Net cash used in investing activities	(21,227)	(9,510)	(61,421)	(25,965)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	30,966	37,718	54,591	60,958
Repurchases of common stock	(43,298)	(67,782)	(108,572)	(139,450)
Excess tax benefits from stock plans	537	3,470	5,068	11,589
Dividends paid	0	0	(53,014)	(42,397)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(822)	(963)	(822)	(963)
Net cash used in financing activities	(12,617)	(27,557)	(102,749)	(110,263)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(24,477)	20,975	(8,676)	6,838
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	34,984	96,926	176,349	131,297
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,225,830	960,300	1,084,465	925,929
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,260,814	1,057,226	1,260,814	1,057,226
Interest and Taxes Paid:
Interest	48	9	65	53
Income taxes	$ 65,856	$ 52,407	$ 183,167	$ 129,249

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Share-Based Compensation Stock Compensation Expense and Total Related Tax Benefit Recognized (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock compensation expense	$ 12,738	$ 10,846	$ 33,446	$ 33,047
Recognized tax benefit	$ 40	$ 39	$ 117	$ 148

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Shares Excluded from Computation of Diluted earnings Per Share (Detail)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Shares	8,550,014	10,975,415	7,281,935	10,975,415

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Share-Based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation

The Company provides compensation benefits by granting stock options and employee stock purchase rights to its employees and restricted shares to its directors. On May 4, 2011, the shareholders approved the 2011 Stock Option Plan ("2011 Plan"), which made available 3,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock for purchase upon exercise of options granted under the 2011 Plan. The Company's annual grant of option awards generally takes place during the second quarter of each fiscal year. For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011 and 2010, 2,998,390 and 2,634,885 options were granted, respectively. Also, for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, 663,386 and 694,329 shares were issued upon exercise of employee stock purchase rights, respectively.

The Company recognizes stock compensation expense based on the estimated fair value of awards granted to employees and directors under the Company’s stock option, director restricted stock and employee stock purchase rights plans. The expense, adjusted for expected forfeitures, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the stock awards' vesting period. The forfeiture assumption used to calculate compensation expense is primarily based on historical pre-vesting employee forfeiture patterns. The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing with the following assumptions:

	Nine months ended September 30,
	2011			2010
Dividend yield	.97 - .98%			1.07 - 1.08%
Volatility - stock option plans	38 - 40%			38 - 40%
Volatility - stock purchase rights plans	26		%	29		%
Risk free interest rates	.19 - 2.84%			.29 - 2.86%
Expected life (years) - stock option plans	5.50 - 7.11			5.44 - 6.90
Expected life (years) - stock purchase rights plans	1			1
Weighted average fair value of stock options granted during the period	$	19.35		$	14.51
Weighted average fair value of stock purchase rights granted during the period	$	11.70		$	11.16

Total stock compensation expense and the total related tax benefit recognized are as follows:

	Three months ended				Nine months ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2011		2010		2011		2010
Stock compensation expense	$	12,738	$	10,846	$	33,446	$	33,047
Recognized tax benefit	$	40	$	39	$	117	$	148

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Components of Equity and Comprehensive Income (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Schedule of Components of Equity Disclosure

The components of equity for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

	Shareholders’ equity			Noncontrolling interest		Total equity
Balance at December 31, 2010	$	1,740,906		7,248		1,748,154
Exercise of stock options	30,367			—		30,367
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan	24,224			—		24,224
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans	(108,572		)	—		(108,572	)
Stock compensation expense	33,446			—		33,446
Tax benefits from stock plans	5,068			—		5,068
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	292,836			267		293,103
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $5,621	(10,160		)	(354	)	(10,514	)
Reclassification adjustments for foreign currency realized losses, net of tax of $391	618			—		618
Total comprehensive income	283,294			(87	)	283,207
Dividends paid ($.25 per share)	(53,014		)	—		(53,014	)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	—			(822	)	(822	)
Balance at September 30, 2011	$	1,955,719		6,339		1,962,058
Balance at December 31, 2009	$	1,553,007		8,340		1,561,347
Exercise of stock options	40,408			—		40,408
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan	20,550			—		20,550
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans	(139,450		)	—		(139,450	)
Stock compensation expense	33,047			—		33,047
Tax benefits from stock plans	11,589			—		11,589
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	247,670			87		247,757
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $2,303	4,198			32		4,230
Total comprehensive income	251,868			119		251,987
Dividends paid ($.20 per share)	(42,397		)	—		(42,397	)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	—			(963	)	(963	)
Balance at September 30, 2010	$	1,728,622		7,496		1,736,118

Schedule of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The components of total comprehensive income for interim periods are as follows:

	Three months ended					Nine months ended
	September 30,					September 30,
	2011			2010		2011			2010
Net earnings	$	106,876		$	96,038	$	293,103		$	247,757
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $13,476 and $11,984 for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and $5,621 and $2,303 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010	(24,707		)	21,983		(10,514		)	4,230
Reclassification adjustments for foreign currency realized losses, net of tax of $391 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2011	618			—		618			—
Comprehensive income	82,787			118,021		283,207			251,987
Less: comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	59			71		(87		)	119
Comprehensive income attributable to shareholders	$	82,728		$	117,950	$	283,294		$	251,868

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Share-Based Compensation Additional Information (Details)	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	May 04, 2011 Stock Option plan 2011 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares authorized for option grants							3,000,000
Options granted	2,998,390	2,634,885
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan			663,386	694,329	663,386	694,329

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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,260,814	$ 1,084,465
Short-term investments	483	524
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $11,211 at September 30, 2011 and $14,636 at December 31, 2010	997,705	1,003,884
Deferred Federal and state income taxes	10,161	8,706
Other	43,450	42,776
Total current assets	2,312,613	2,140,355
Property and equipment, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $290,720 at September 30, 2011 and $281,651 at December 31, 2010	528,852	498,648
Goodwill, net	7,927	7,927
Other intangibles, net	2,916	3,716
Other assets, net	30,861	28,533
Total assets	2,883,169	2,679,179
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	655,092	652,161
Accrued expenses, primarily salaries and related costs	178,175	177,869
Federal, state and foreign income taxes	32,234	31,948
Total current liabilities	865,501	861,978
Deferred Federal and state income taxes	55,610	69,047
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' Equity:
Preferred stock, none issued	0	0
Common stock, par value $.01 per share. Issued and outstanding 211,979,262 shares at September 30, 2011 and 212,047,774 shares at December 31, 2010	2,120	2,120
Additional paid-in capital	3,641	13,412
Retained earnings	1,951,375	1,717,249
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(1,417)	8,125
Total shareholders' equity	1,955,719	1,740,906
Noncontrolling interest	6,339	7,248
Total equity	1,962,058	1,748,154
Total liabilities and equity	$ 2,883,169	$ 2,679,179