GEFCO China expects further growth with Belt & Road and Freight Forwarding solutions
La Défense, France, GEFCO China, together with its two Chinese joint ventures DongFeng GEFCO and SMGL (Shenzhen Minsheng GEFCO Logistics) plan to increase their turnover by at least 40% in 2021, anticipating an increasing demand for new generation automotive logistics and new development opportunities resulting from the Belt & Road initiative. The company, which has been operating in China for many years and which subsidiary has just celebrated its 10th anniversary, employs 1300 persons in 15 cities.
With 70 years of industrial supply chain expertise, GEFCO offers customers a deep understanding of the Chinese market and a unique collaborative approach, in line with its “Partners, unlimited” branding. Throughout the years, the Group has expanded worldwide, developing innovative, sustainable solutions for automotive logistics and a variety of other sectors including industrial and high-tech. The Group also provides best-in-class national and international freight forwarding solutions, along with specific expertise in the pharma and life sciences industry.
Supporting the Belt & Road Initiative with Custom-Made Freight Forwarding Solutions
GEFCO delivers unique integrated supply chain solutions in China, including finished-vehicle logistics, warehousing management, quarantine/customs/tax formalities and freight forwarding.
GEFCO China plays a key role in GEFCO’s freight forwarding network, which is handling an increasing volume of freight forwarding services on the belt & road. To this extend, the Group has set up a new dedicated subsidiary in Chongqing specialized in importing and exporting vehicles by rail between Europe, Russia and China, and developing all other GEFCO logistics activities in this central region of China.
In January 2019, GEFCO’s freight forwarding network managed a China to Ukraine maritime delivery for Scatec & Risen Energy Company. GEFCO successfully delivered 217 containers of solar equipment at three destination sites within the projected time frame. As a result, GEFCO has been selected to become a strategic logistic provider for upcoming projects.
Boosting the automotive supply chain for the electric revolution
Beyond its important inbound logistics activities in the Chinese automotive sector (in plant line feeding, spare parts logistics), GEFCO is building on its unique know-how and capabilities to boost OEM supply chains in China with unrivalled finished-vehicle solutions. These include door-to-door services for complete built-up units, pre-carriage, car transportation, storage, compound design, operation management and domestic distribution to dealers.
“EVs need fewer moving parts than ICE powertrains, which means less transportation of spare parts in the future. Moreover, transportation assets and schemes will need to be adjusted to comply with regulation on battery transport. At GEFCO, we are convinced our 70 years of experience in automotive logistics can make a difference in boosting our customers’ supply chain for the electric revolution”, explains Paul-Henry Fréret, Executive Vice President East Asia at GEFCO.
The Group already transports batteries from China to Europe for leading OEMs and suppliers, including CATL since February 2019 (5-year contract) and provides electric-specific compound services in different markets. GEFCO and its joint-ventures also worked with other successful Chinese brands such as BYD.
In addition, GEFCO China has made innovation another priority in its development strategy, especially to meet fast-evolving market needs, such as second-hand car services. Worldwide, GEFCO encourages innovation through its internal Innovation Factory and a partnership with start-up accelerator Techstars. These initiatives provide GEFCO teams with unique opportunities to develop disruptive solutions and create value for customers’ supply chains.