Leading logistics companies are expanding and establishing new facilities in the Republic to stay ahead of the game.

In 2007, a World Bank report ranked Singapore as the top logistics hub in the world, above big players like the Netherlands, Germany, China and Japan. Much of the credit goes to the Singapore's impressive capabilities, particularly its excellent connectivity, world-class infrastructure, and the fact that it serves as a base for leading industry players and customers.

SATS Launches Singapore's First On-Airport Perishables Handling Centre

Singapore Airport Terminal Services Limited (SATS) will soon launch Coolport @ Changi, Singapore's first on-airport perishables handling centre, in early 2010.

Costing approximately S$12 million (US$8.3 million) to build, the new centre will be the first dedicated on-airport facility in Singapore for handling terminal and transit perishables cargo within the Free Trade Zone. It will have multi-tiered zones, with different temperatures ranging from - 28°C to 18°C, to handle a wide range of commodities such as live seafood, ornamental fish, meats, fresh produce and flowers.

Clement Woon, President and CEO, SATS, explained, "Our vision is for Coolport @ Changi to become the preferred transhipment hub for those categories of products requiring a secure cool chain logistics process."

A first in Singapore, Coolport @ Changi will also have a dedicated system in place to handle urgent medical cargo, strengthening Singapore's position as Asia’s leading biomedical hub. It also aims to be the first Halal-certified air cargo hub for perishables in Asia Pacific.

TNT Opens Regional Hub in Singapore

Other companies which are expanding include leading integrated express services provider, TNT, which recently opened its larger, re-modelled Regional Hub in April this year, to serve as a nerve centre for Asia. The S$20 million (US$13.8 million) facility, located at Changi Airfreight Centre, is the Republic’s first integrated air and road hub that aims to increase the volume of time-sensitive freight passing through Singapore. This expansion is part of the company's four-year investment plan which will strengthen its regional network coverage, connectivity and infrastructure.

The Regional Hub has the capability of handling up to 350 tonnes of cargo a day, enhancing TNT's international air freight services between Europe, Southeast Asia and China. The expanded facility also connects TNT's air services directly to the company's 5,000 mile Asia Road Network (ARN), which is the only fully managed and operated land-based express freight service route in the region.

Katoen Natie Singapore Expands Jurong Logistics Terminal

Leading logistics services provider, Katoen Natie, is also expanding its presence here. The company has started constructing Phase 3 of its Jurong Logistics Terminal. In order to build a global network of chemical distribution terminals, the company, which specialises in bulk handling and silo storage for chemical industries, has invested S$60 million (US$41.5 million) in the project.

This expansion will significantly increase the company's capacity in terms of size and capabilities. In addition, the company plans to offer new services which will include processing and compounding, optical storing and specialised packaging and blending. Following the completion of Phase 3, Katoen Natie has also planned for Phase 4 and 5 expansions of its Jurong Logistics Terminal. This will double the company's total investment in the Republic to more than S$300 million (US$208 million) and translate to an additional 300 jobs.

According to Dirk Lannoo, Vice President, Katoen Natie Group, "Singapore is continuously reshaping itself with a strong drive towards innovation and new technologies. The relentless drive of Singapore to innovate fits very well (with) Katoen Natie's drive to innovate new logistics solutions that will help our customers to make the difference."

Zuellig Pharma Unveils New Regional Distribution Centre

Singapore's largest healthcare distributor, Zuellig Pharma, officially opened its newly upgraded distribution centre in March this year. The centre, worth an estimated S$40 million (US$28 million), is a state-of-the-art facility that is home to the company's Local Distribution Centre, and the recently established Specialty Solutions Group, a regional consultancy and supply chain specialist in specialty pharma logistics headquartered in Singapore.

The new facility renews Zuellig Pharma's commitment  to the pharmaceutical distribution business in the region. The expansion has doubled Zuellig Pharma's storage capacity while combining advanced technologies and refined processes to generate an integrated system which easily adapts to fluctuations in demand.

Leveraging Singapore's strengths and opportunities, logistics players can constantly upgrade themselves and offer a suite of high value-added services to meet their customers' increasingly complex and specialised global supply chain needs.