News / Hanjin expands European logistics footprint with new fulfilment centre

3PL Hanjin Logistics has opened a European fulfilment centre in Amsterdam to cater for surging South Korean cosmetics exports.

These exports to Europe have seen average annual growth rate of 27% since 2022 with cosmetics makers such as Amore Pacific and The Face Shop turning to Europe due to keen competition in the US.

In the first six months of 2025, South Korean cosmetics exports to the Czech Republic surged by more than hundred times, year on year, while exports to Poland and France grew 134% and 116%, respectively.

Hanjin’s facility is 10 minutes from Schiphol Airport and an hour from Rotterdam port, ideal for air and sea links. The facility caters for B2B clients and direct delivery to consumers.

Hanjin plans to explore related business models, including air forwarding to South Korea and to the Americas.

A Hanjin official said: “Unlike previous export methods that were highly dependent on buyers, local fulfilment is growing in importance as make-up brands are doing more direct sales.”

He continued: “Our Amsterdam centre isn’t only a warehouse, but it will also become a partner to help South Korean brands to succeed in Europe.”

The opening of the facility is in line with Hanjin Group chairman Cho Won-tae’s pledge to fully integrate Korean Air and Asiana Airlines this year and enable synergies with land transportation.

Following Korean Air’s acquisition of Asiana in December 2024, the Asiana brand is set to disappear by year-end, and it will operate under its new owner’s name. The airlines’ low-cost carriers, Jin Air, Air Seoul, and Air Busan, will be merged, with Jin Air becoming the surviving entity.

Mr Cho said in his new year speech that the chaebol needed to develop as a global logistics group, explaining: “By bringing together our air and ground logistics operations, we’ll become a global logistics group that links South Korea and overseas markets seamlessly.

“Now Hanjin Group’s rivals are in the global market, we have to expand our horizons and reform ourselves to compete on the world stage.”

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