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Rhenus Group solidifies LATAM presence through strategic acquisitions and partnerships

  • Written by Daily Sun
  • Additionally, Rhenus is securing a majority share of 51 percent in LBH Group, which operates in more than 30 countries worldwide, including six in the LATAM region, and has additional alliances in several Central American countries.
  • Combining the Blu and LBH teams will result in the Rhenus Group growing its LATAM workforce by 2,200 employees, reinforcing Rhenus dedication to the region by enhancing its local capabilities and contributing to its global expansion efforts.
  • These strategic actions aim to bolster Rhenus presence in LATAM to accelerate further growth in global trade and enhance its Asia-LATAM trade lane, nearshoring capabilities, and service options in light of the industry trend to diversify sourcing and supply chains.

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 7 September 2023 - Rhenus, a leading global logistics specialist, is further expanding its existing presence in the Latin America (LATAM) market through strategic initiatives designed to enhance its service portfolio and capitalize on the region's growing potential for globally connected supply chains. The company has announced its acquisition of Colombia-based BLU Logistics and a majority shareholding of LBH Group, bolstering its capabilities in the region and reinforcing its commitment to global supply chain connectivity.

"Our strategic acquisitions allow us to further strengthen our global network and service portfolio in the LATAM region, where we see increasing demand for logistics services, especially for the e-commerce industry. In addition, the region's proximity to the North American market fosters a robust environment for nearshoring, which aligns perfectly with our growth strategy. Together with BLU and LBH, we create a unique position with the value of a family-business for our customers and people by offering a strong footprint in key markets to secure more robust supply chains globally," says Tobias Bartz, CEO and Chairman of the Rhenus Group.

A gateway through LATAM

The Rhenus Group has a strong foundation in LATAM, with established operations across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. Their recent acquisitions have paved the way for even broader geographical coverage including BLU Logistics' additional presence in Uruguay, Paraguay, and Ecuador, as well as port agency services in Latin America, among others in Colombia, Brazil, Panama, Curacao and in several Central American countries from LBH. This expansion complements Rhenus leading position in the Asia-LATAM corridor, leveraging BLU's robust trans-Pacific freight forwarding network. This strategic move not only allows Rhenus to expand its activities in the region seamlessly but enables BLU to extend its reach to European and Indian trade lanes, leading to significant growth in its existing customer offerings and cross-selling opportunities. David Kassin, previously associated with BLU Logistics, will assume the role of CEO for Rhenus Air & Ocean LATAM.

"This is a win-win-win for BLU Logistics, Rhenus, and above all, our customers. The global Rhenus network gives us the possibility to further explore other regions and to expand our client base to new segments and geographies, especially to India and the Middle East, as well as Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America," says David Kassin, CEO of Rhenus Air & Ocean LATAM. "The synergy between BLU and Rhenus, driven by our shared commitment to customer-centricity, team cohesion, and entrepreneurial spirit, will propel us to even greater heights."

A deepened relationship

The acquisition of a majority share in the LBH Group enables Rhenus to enter and cover the Latin American, Asian, Australian, and African markets as a globally oriented port agency with business sites in 24 countries worldwide as well as alliances in 7 additional countries. As part of the acquisition, the logistics specialist is taking over all the employees at the globally active maritime shipping agency, which includes processing incoming and outgoing vessels – regardless of whether they carry bulk goods, liquid cargo, containers, or general cargo. Rhenus is aiming to extend the takeover to include 100 percent of the shares during the next few years. Both parties have been cooperating in a relationship of trust for many years. "We're looking forward to successfully pressing ahead to grow our business together, with our trusted partner Rhenus becoming a permanent feature in our future orientation," says Bert Lagendijk, Managing Partner of the LBH Group. Together with his brother Jan Lagendijk, both co-founders of LBH will initially remain active on board to tap into future growth opportunities.

The transaction with BLU Logistics is subject to approval of the Colombian antitrust authorities.

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About Rhenus Group

The Rhenus Group is one of the leading logistics specialists with business operations around the globe and annual turnover amounting to EUR 8.6 billion. 39,000 employees work at 1,120 business sites and develop innovative solutions along the complete supply chain. Whether providing transport, warehousing, customs clearance or value-added services, the family business pools its operations in various business units where the needs of customers are always the major focus.

About BLU Logistics

BLU Logistics is a leading logistics and transportation company with operations in Latin America and Asia. Founded in Colombia in 1995, BLU Logistics quickly developed into one of the largest transport companies in Latin America. Headquartered in Bogotá, Colombia, this specialist in maritime and air cargo transportation, warehousing, customs, and logistics services also has branches in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Ecuador, Mexico and Greater China. The company is the number one maritime transport company in Colombia with an import cargo volume of more than 180,000 TEUs (20-foot containers).

About LBH Group

Founded in 1984 in Rotterdam, the LBH Group expanded its operations to include the transport of different bulk commodities and opened branches in 24 countries as well as alliances in additional 7 countries – with a strong focus on Australia and Africa. In Latin America, the port agency has offices in twelve countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Panama, among others. The individual branches have been combined under the LBH Group brand since 2008.