SCGJWD Logistics Public Company Limited (SJWD) is in the process of further expanding its cold storage warehouse business in ASEAN, to increase the coverage from the CLMV + China group - to Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore, all of which have high economic growth potential. This enlarged regional cluster reinforces the Company's potential as a strong cold chain hub in ASEAN, capitalizing on the continued growth trend of the cold storage industry in this region with the aim of leveraging this segment to become a driving growth for the core business.
Mr. Bunn Kasemsup, Co-Chief Executive Officer of SCGJWD Logistics Public Company Limited (SJWD), the largest integrated logistics and supply chain service provider in the ASEAN, revealed that the Company recognizes the economic growth potential of Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore, as leading ASEAN countries driving regional economies. Therefore, SCGJWD is targeting expansion of its cold storage warehouse and temperature-controlled transport business from the CLMV + China group of countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam + China) to the aforementioned countries to enhance the potential for SJWD to become a Cold Chain Hub in ASEAN - a strong center of cold storage warehouse business in ASEAN, including the creation of a regional cold storage warehouse cluster.
SJWD has invested in logistics services in Indonesia, ASEAN's largest economy with the biggest population and one of the region's key investment destinations, since 2017 through SCG Barito Logistics Company Limited (SCG Barito Logistics). SJWD is capable of providing Indonesia-wide logistics services, covering the country's major islands, namely Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali, and Maluku. The services include land transport, general warehousing, and dangerous goods storage. The company operates a fleet of more than 200 trucks. In 2025, SJWD expects to realize a revenue of US$45 million, an 8-percent year-on-year increase, mainly from serving customers within the SCG Group and Thai companies investing in Indonesia. SJWD has also entered into a joint venture with the Samudera Group, a major Indonesian shipping line operator, to manage cold storage warehouses. Currently, SJWD manages cold storage spaces within its partners' networks and is in negotiations for business collaboration with a major Indonesian cold storage warehouse operator, who runs seven cold storage warehouses with a combined capacity of 30,000-40,000 pallets.
In the Philippines, ever since SJWD has partnered with Royal Cargo Company Limited, a leading integrated logistics and cold storage service provider in the country, to establish SCG Logistics Philippines Company Limited joint venture in 2023 to enhance services and expand logistics business in the Philippines, SJWD recognized growth opportunities in the cold storage business in the Philippines and the potential of Royal Cargo, which operates over 140,000 square meters of cold storage space, capable of accommodating over 33,000 pallets. As such, discussions are currently underway to further expand investment in the Philippines.
Malaysia was the latest country SJWD has invested in. The move served to enhance the transport connectivity amongst Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. This has been expedited by partnering with Swift Haulage Berhad (SWIFT), a major integrated logistics service provider listed on the Malaysian Stock Exchange, to establish Swift Cold Chain Sdn. Bhd. joint venture, to invest in three cold storage warehouse projects in Malaysia. These are: (1) GVL Cold Chain project, within Shah Alam International Logistics Hub, to serve customers in the central region, covering approximately 11,000 square meters with a 10,000-pallet capacity. Construction is expected to be completed in Q4 2025 and open for service in early 2026; (2) The cold storage warehouse project in Johor Bahru covering 10,000 square meters with the capacity to store 10,000 pallets. Preparations to start construction are currently under way and are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026. Both these two projects will require a total investment of more than 800 million baht. And (3) The cold storage warehouse construction project in Penang, with an area of 10,000 to 20,000 square meters. This project is expected to be finalized in the first quarter of 2027.
"SJWD prioritizes the expansion of its logistics clusters in Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore, all of which are leading ASEAN countries with high growth potential. However, due to their archipelago-like geography, freight transport requires expertise and a truly comprehensive service network. This includes offering solutions to meet the specific needs and addressing logistics and supply chain issues for customers. Therefore, we offer a wide range of services, including land, rail, and water transport; cold storage; general warehousing; and international freight forwarding, to meet the logistics needs of customers in each country and to disburse goods from Singapore to Malaysia, the Philippines, or Indonesia," Mr. Bunn said.
Mr. Charvanin Bunditkitsada, Co-Chief Executive Officer of SJWD, stated that the "CLMV + China" markets are strategically important for SJWD's cold storage business, with a broad market base covering both domestic consumption and import-export markets. This collaboration enables SJWD to connect and enhance its cross-border transportation services for temperature-controlled goods and general goods on the Thailand-ASEAN-China route. This has also led SJWD to adapt its transportation models and routes, including providing cross-border transportation services from other countries to Cambodia during the border closure period.
SJWD, in collaboration with its partner (RMA), has expanded its cold storage warehouse in Cambodia by 1,200 square meters, bringing the total floor area to 3,400 square meters, with an investment of US$550,000 (approximately 17.5 million baht). Recently, the Company partnered with Express Food Group (EFG), Cambodia's major operator of food chain franchises, including The Pizza Company, Dairy Queen, and Swensen's, to import and transport cooking equipment from Thailand to Cambodia. The Company offered a solution during border closure by adjusting the transportation route through Laos and Vietnam to Cambodia, as well as by sea routes. Furthermore, the Company provided services to TOURles JOUR Cafe, a customer of EFG, to transport baking ingredients from Vietnam to its 6-7 branches in Cambodia. The Company also plans to expand its logistics services through a collaboration with its Vietnamese partner Transimex, which is a comprehensive end-to-end logistics provider, to supply temperature-controlled freight services for BigC.
SJWD's goal is to make cold storage and temperature-controlled transportation one of its core growth drivers. This aligns with the overall projection of the cold storage business in ASEAN from 2022 to 2027, which is expected to continue growing. A good example is Indonesia, whose total market value is expected to increase by nearly 80 percent, from US$6.981 billion to US$12.504 billion. The Philippines' market value is likewise expected to increase by 46.5 percent from US$5.043 billion to US$7.387 billion. At the same time, Malaysia's market value is expected to increase by 29.5 percent from US$1.836 billion to US$2.377 billion. Singapore's market value is forecasted to increase by 25.6 percent from US$829 million to US$1.041 billion. While Vietnam's market value is projected to increase by 47.2 percent from US$4.374 billion to US$6.437 billion, Thailand's market value is expected to increase by 38.7 percent from US$3.417 billion to US$4.738 billion.
In Thailand, SJWD is currently expanding its investment in ten cold storage warehouses in six provinces, covering strategic industrial areas of Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Chachoengsao, and Saraburi, as well as the northern province of Chiang Mai, with a combined floor area of over 160,000 square meters, able to support over 100,000 tons of goods or approximately more than 240,000 pallets. Plans are also afoot to expand investment in Surat Thani and Khon Kaen provinces to increase service potential to ultimately cover all regions of Thailand.