News / Rhenus Logistics unveils ambitious plans for global expansion

Rhenus Logistics is to increase its Asia-Pacific operational footprint by more than 10% this year.

Rhenus Asia CEO Pacific Tobias Bartz told The Loadstar at Transport Logistic in Munich this week six sites had already opened in the region.

“And we have plans for a further 14 in all countries across Asia-Pacific,” he said.

Mr Bartz said new offices in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam would open by the end of the year. The six already open are in Singapore, Busan, Semarang, Rayong and two in the Philippines.

“We are involved in a long-term growth course,” he said. “And we are continuing this process with our new business sites.”

He said the main obstacle to such an aggressive expansion programme was human resources.

“For the company to succeed it needs to be staffed by motivated people, and that requires training and us to ask what concerns them and what they need,” he said.

“We have done exactly this; we have set up our own training programmes and have grown a pool of young, able talent.”

The company, which primarily focuses on general cargo, has 2,000 staff across its 50 Asia-Pacific offices.

While Asia undoubtedly remains the core focus, Mr Bartz said the company was also expanding its reach in other parts of the world.

“Germany, France, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, as well as Central and South America are interesting markets for us,” he said.

“We recently entered Brazil and are aiming to have a staff of 60 there by the end of the year – this will be our South American foothold.”

In Germany, the company said it would bridge the gap between overland traffic and its air and sea business, and is set to open a sea freight gateway near Dusseldorf to consolidate consignments from across the continent.