Kerry Logistics has opened a logistics centre in the Cangzhou Lingang Economic and Technological Development Zone in Hebei, China under Kerry IMS Chemical Logistics to capture the market potential in chemical logistics.

The logistics centre was opened and commenced operation on 8 January.

The Kerry IMS Chemical Cangzhou logistics centre was developed to strengthen Kerry Logistics Network’s service capability in the chemical sector and an important base in Northern China, consolidating the Company’s combined resources in logistics, export industries, an international-standard operating platform and transportation facilities.

In a statement, Kerry said the facility is located in the proximity of the Tianjin Nangang Industrial Zone, the logistics centre has a total area of 320,000 sq ft, comprising Class A warehouse, Class B warehouse, as well as office facilities, and has the capacity to handle 400,000 tonnes of Class A and Class B chemicals per year.

At present, it is handling mainly industrial raw materials, mostly packaged in Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC), drums and pails. The warehouse will store 38 types of dangerous goods, including flammable liquids and solids, oxidisers and corrosive substances.

“The Kerry IMS Chemical Cangzhou logistics centre is the flagship development in Kerry Logistics Network’s expansion of its chemical logistics business, unleashing its strength as a 3PL in the chemical and dangerous goods market,” said William Ma, group managing director of Kerry Logistics.

“With this logistics centre, Kerry Logistics Network is confident that it will greatly enhance its service capabilities in chemical and dangerous goods logistics, enriching user experience and service quality to offer growth initiatives to the industry,” he added.

Enormous potential for chemical logistics

Edwardo Erni, Managing Director - China and North Asia of Kerry Logistics noted “there is enormous potential and development prospects in the chemical logistics market.”

“The completion and opening of the Cangzhou logistics centre will allow us to provide professional chemical supply chain consolidation services to our customers in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region. It will give support to our customers’ national and regional framework and consistently optimise supply chain networks to raise the autonomy of the chemical industry supply chain,” he said.

Leveraging the geographical advantage of the Cangzhou Lingang Economic and Technological Development Zone, Kerry said the Chemical Cangzhou logistics centre is supported by Kerry IMS Chemical Logistics’ strong chemical warehousing, long-haul trucking and distribution services and network.

It can also fulfill the warehousing and transit needs of local chemical companies in Hebei, Tianjin, Shanxi and Shandong regions — integrating regional resources and upstream and downstream industries to create a sustainable industry chain.

Kerry said the logistics centre is the implementation of its operation strategy of synchronised distribution from the warehouses in Eastern, Southern, Northern and Southwest China, so that the logistics and distribution time nationwide is shortened, ensuring the timely delivery of goods to increase the competitiveness of its customers’ products.