Tandem reorganises operations for global trade

• New shareholder structure for the holding company and operating companies
• Stronger position in China
• Growth in the Netherlands due to acquisition

Hong Kong, 23 October 2023. International freight-forwarding network TANDEM Global Logistics, specialising in sea freight and airfreight, is restructuring its operations. Both the TANDEM holding company in Hong Kong and the TANDEM operating company in China are changing their shareholder structure and, as a result, are expecting a significant rise in volume in Indo-Pacific and trans-Pacific trade. A transaction in the Netherlands is also set to boost growth.

A group of independent logistics companies – including providers of airfreight/sea freight services and sophisticated logistics solutions for global supply chains, operating exclusively in their respective countries – have been cooperating under the TANDEM umbrella brand since 2007. The network spans more than 80 countries, comprising 200 offices and some 2,500 employees.

Global commitment and new locations in China

A new shareholder structure has paved the way for a reorganisation of operations in China. The new company TANDEM Rieck Global Logistics Ltd. is created, whose head office in Shanghai is now supplemented by offices in Beijing, Dalian, Guangzhou, Kunshan, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Tianjin and Xiamen.

As such, TANDEM Holding (HK) is involved in operations/operating companies in Hong Kong, India and now China.

As the partners are now bringing in more business on account of their new shareholder commitments, volume and revenue have almost doubled under the new structure. “This has a positive impact when buying capacity from carriers,” notes Robert Powell. “Furthermore, we will hugely ramp up our global focus through our corporate engagement.”

Profiting from Indo-Pacific trade

The entire Group stands to benefit. The aim is to further expand the trade lanes between China and Southeast Asia (e.g. Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia) and between China and South America. “In future, we will therefore be able to benefit even more from Indo-Pacific trade,” explains Robert Powell. Bright prospects: with protectionism on the rise around the world, new and important free-trade zones – whether ASEAN, CPTPP or RCEP[1] – are emerging for billions of consumers. Indo-Pacific trade is flourishing.

Growth boost from Europe

TANDEM also anticipates renewed growth momentum in the Netherlands, where TANDEM Global Logistics Netherlands B.V., with its registered office in Rotterdam, has acquired SMART Logistics, an Amsterdam-based company also specialising in airfreight and sea freight, retroactively as of 1 January 2023. The aim is to further expand and strengthen the branch at Europe’s largest port, Rotterdam, as a sea freight hub and the branch at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam as an airfreight hub.

“With these joint strategic steps and growth opportunities, we are seeking to strengthen the network as a whole globally,” remarks Robert Powell. “We are sending a clear signal as regards a global corporate commitment. Thanks to the new structure, we are perfectly placed for global trade and have significantly bolstered our position in China. We now have to drive this expansion apace.”

[1] ASEAN = Association of Southeast Asian Nations; CPTPP = Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership; RCEP = Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership