Yusen opens perishables storage facility in Cambodia

Japan-based Yusen Logistics has opened one of Cambodia’s largest temperature-controlled distribution center in Phnom Penh, which is becoming a significant air cargo destination for its textiles and perishable exports. The 33,000-square-foot facility has almost twice the capacity of the existing warehouse and includes a 4,237-square-foot temperature-controlled storage area.

With the expansion, Yusen is looking to capture business in the storage, processing and distribution of chilled and frozen goods with quality assurance and compliance. And while the vast majority of Cambodia’s exports are of the sartorial nature – the country exported US$1.8 billion worth of sweaters alone in 2014, representing 15 percent of the value of its outbound cargo – high-value agricultural products, such as nuts and fruit, are a growing export.

On the inbound side, imports of Cambodia have increased at an annualized rate of 20.6 percent, from $5.82 billion in 2009 to $14.9 billion in 2014. Yusen said it wants to bolster its existing range of logistic services, including ocean and airfreight forwarding, customs clearance, domestic delivery and cross-border transportation from Cambodia. “We are striving to meet the logistics needs of our customers in Cambodia by blending a diverse range of services with the capabilities of new facilities.”