According to e.vnexpress.net, COSCO Shipping International — the Singapore-listed logistics arm of China COSCO Shipping Corporation — is accelerating expansion into Vietnam and Indonesia amid robust manufacturing growth and recovering dry-bulk shipping demand across Southeast Asia.
Strategic Focus on Southeast Asia
Jiang Kai, President of COSCO Shipping International, stated:
“We are full of confidence in the Southeast Asian market.” — Jiang Kai, President of COSCO Shipping International
The company currently derives all of its consolidated revenue from operations in Singapore and Malaysia, with approximately 87% generated in Singapore alone. While it maintains equity stakes in logistics businesses in both Vietnam and Indonesia, these associated entities contributed about a quarter of the group’s profit before tax in the first half of 2026.
Resilient Regional Demand Drivers
Despite global trade turbulence—including U.S. tariffs and geopolitical conflicts in Ukraine and Iran—Jiang noted that manufacturing activity remains strong across Southeast Asia. He cited a recovery in the region’s dry-bulk shipping market, which transports key industrial inputs such as coal and iron ore, as well as rising demand for specialized cargo shipping of industrial machinery, automobiles, and new energy equipment.
“The growth in Southeast Asia’s shipping industry has similarly generated a stable increase in logistics demand.” — Jiang Kai, President of COSCO Shipping International
Revenue Growth and Domestic Investment
COSCO Shipping International reported revenue of SGD96.8 million (US$76 million) for the first half of 2026, reflecting a 6% increase year-on-year. This growth was driven by higher contributions from logistics services, ship repair, and marine engineering. In Singapore, the company is advancing the Jurong Island Logistics Hub Phase II, its largest investment in the city-state. The project features upgraded integrated logistics infrastructure and is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Geopolitical and Operational Context
The firm’s regional push aligns with broader supply chain realignment trends. As some Chinese manufacturers prioritize Southeast Asia for overseas manufacturing bases, demand for end-to-end logistics solutions—including warehousing, customs brokerage, and multimodal transport—has intensified. COSCO Shipping International’s existing regional footprint includes not only logistics ventures but also a stake in a dry-bulk shipping associate operating across Southeast Asia. Its presence at the Port of Kaohsiung in Taiwan was documented on May 29, 2026, when a COSCO container vessel was docked alongside fishing vessels—a visual marker of its active port call frequency in the region.
Source: e.vnexpress.net
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
