KLN (company)

KLN Logistics Group Limited (KLN), formerly Kerry Logistics, is a listed company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Benchmark Index.

KLN is an Asia-based, global 3PL with a global presence across 59 countries and territories, including the Mainland of China, India, Southeast Asia, the CIS, Middle East, LATAM and other locations. The group engages in supply chain solutions from integrated logistics, international freight forwarding (air, ocean, road, rail and multimodal) and e-commerce to industrial project logistics and infrastructure investment.[4]

KLN is headquartered in Kwai Chung, Hong Kong.[5] As of 2020, the company managed 74 e6sqft of logistics facilities globally (24 e6sqft of which is self-owned), with a fleet of over 10,000 self-owned vehicles operating in 59 countries and territories.[6]

History

Before incorporation, its first established warehouse in Hong Kong was built in 1981. By 1991, the Group had five warehouses and acquired one warehouse with an aggregate GFA of approximately 2 e6sqft. The company was established in 1991. In 1999, they opened their flagship logistics facility, Kerry Cargo Centre, a 1.4 e6sqft multi-storey combined logistics facility and global HQ office.[7]

The company name was changed to "Kerry Logistics Network Limited" in 2000, the same year they began to provide truck freight services to warehousing customers. International freight forwarding operations also began shortly after in Hong Kong through the acquisition of Kerry Freight (Hong Kong) Limited (previously named "R&B Transports Limited").[7]

KLN was listed on 19 December 2013, raising over US$280 million,[8] as a spin-off of Kerry Properties Limited. As of 2016, Kerry Logistics owned 12 logistics facilities in Hong Kong with a total GFA of 6.3 e6sqft.[9]

The Group generated a revenue of over HK$53 billion in 2020 and is the largest international logistics company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Stock Code 0636.HK) as well as a selected Member of the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index Series 2020–2021.[10] The parent company of SF Express, SF Holding, has acquired a 51.8% stake in KLN, for HKD 17.6 billion in 2021.[11][12] The company announced the rebranding from Kerry Logistics to KLN in March 2025,[13] and will gradually phase out the use of its Chinese name in favor of "KLN".[14]

International operations

Mainland China

In 2003, in collaboration with a joint venture partner, the first logistics centre in China was developed. In 2005, the China division acquired a 70% equity interest in EAS, and the new joint entity was renamed Kerry EAS Logistics (KEAS). EAS, a Chinese state-owned enterprise, was one of the leading domestic freight and warehousing entities in China at the time. As of the end of 2016, KEAS managed approximately 5 e6sqft of self-owned logistics facilities and approximately 8 e6sqft of leased logistics facilities in China. The revenue in Mainland China was HK$8 billion, or about 38% of the total group revenue.[15]

A joint venture was formed between SF Holding and KLN in 2023 to provide ground handling services for international cargo at Ezhou Huahu International Airport.[13]

Taiwan

In 2004, KLN commenced freight forwarding operations in Taiwan. In 2008, they acquired an initial equity interest in Kerry TJ Logistics, previously named "T. Join Transportation Co., Ltd". As of the end of 2016, KLN held a total equity interest of approximately 49.67% in Kerry TJ Logistics.[16] Kerry TJ Logistics is a major logistics service provider in Taiwan whose shares have been listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange since 1990. It has an extensive distribution network supported by a fleet of more than 3,000 trucks.[17]

Southeast Asia

KLN's business in ASEAN (Southeast Asia) started in 2002, with both integrated logistics and international freight forwarding operations in Thailand. In 2003, KLN completed the development of a logistics centre, with a total GFA of approximately 181000 sqft, in Thailand's largest sea port in Laem Chabang, south of Bangkok. In 2004, KLN acquired an initial equity interest in Kerry Siam Seaport Limited (formerly Siam Seaport Terminal & Warehouses Co., Ltd.). As of 2013, KLN holds 79.52% interest in Kerry Siam Seaport Limited. Kerry Siam Seaport Limited operates Kerry Siam Seaport, a multi-purpose port terminal located near Laem Chabang.[18]

Since 2004, KLN has continued to expand into other ASEAN countries by establishing international freight offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Myanmar. As of 2013, KLN managed approximately 6 e6sqft of completed self-owned facilities (representing an attributable GFA of approximately 4 e6sqft) and approximately 3 e6sqft of leased facilities in Thailand where Kerry Logistics trades as Kerry Express.[19]

In March 2024, KLN completed the distribution of its entire shares of KEX Express (Thailand) Public Company Limited, a public company with limited liability registered in Thailand and listed on The Stock Exchange of Thailand (stock code: KEX), in the form of special dividend to Shareholders, and KEX Express Thailand ceased to be a subsidiary of KLN.[20]

United Kingdom

KLN commenced European freight forwarding operations in the United Kingdom in 2002, by acquiring an initial equity interest in Kerry Logistics (UK) (previously named "Trident International Limited"). In 2013, KLN acquired the remaining equity interest, making Kerry Logistics (UK) a wholly owned subsidiary of KLN.[21]

Indev Logistics, India

On 13 April 2016, Kerry Logistics announced the acquisition of a 50% stake in Indev Logistics Pvt. Ltd. (Indev), a Chennai-based logistics company. The stake value is estimated to be around Rs 1,000 crore. By 2018, the company is also planning to list in the Indian markets.[22] Once this investment plan takes effect, Indev will be rebranded as Kerry-INDEV, in line with Kerry's ambition to becoming a major pan-Indian logistics company with an India focus.[23]

See also

  • Kerry Properties Limited

References

  1. Board of Directors www.kln.com^
  2. Ioanna Kontos. Kerry Logistics skyrockets in revenue and profits Container News, March 31, 2025, retrieved May 26, 2025^
  3. KLN Annual Report 2024^
  4. About Us www.kln.com, retrieved 2025-06-09^
  5. Contacts Kerry Logistics, retrieved 2020-12-29^
  6. Kerry Logistics Network 2020 Results Presentation^
  7. Kerry Logistics Network Prospectus^
  8. Anette Jönsson. Kerry Logistics prices IPO at the top to raise $284m FinanceAsia, 2013-12-13, retrieved 2024-06-05^
  9. Kerry Logistics www.kerrylogistics.com^
  10. About us at Kerry Logistics' official website^
  11. SF Holding to buy Kerry Logistics to expand reach beyond China Nikkei Asia, retrieved 2023-05-24^
  12. SF Holdings Announcement on the progress of the proposed partial tender offer to acquire a 51.8% stake in Kerry Logistics Shenzhen Stock Exchange, Sep 29, 2021, retrieved 2023-05-24^
  13. Kerry Logistics rebrands as KLN; reports profit rise in 2024 Asia Cargo News, 2025-03-28, retrieved 2025-05-26^
  14. 嘉里物流宣布更名为KLN物流集团 壹览商业, 2025-03-04, retrieved 2025-05-26^
  15. Kerry Logistics www.kerrylogistics.com^
  16. Kerry Logistics www.kerrylogistics.com^
  17. KERRY TJ Company Introduction www.kerrytj.com, retrieved 2016-07-22^
  18. Bloomberg^
  19. About us Kerry Express (Thailand) Limited, retrieved 7 July 2018^
  20. HKEX News. Declaration Of Special Interim Dividend By Way Of Distribution In Specie Of Shares Of Kerry Express (Thailand) Public Company Limited <BR> Completion of the Distribution 26 March 2024^
  21. About Kerry Logistics (UK) Ltd Kerry Logistics^
  22. T. E. Narasimhan. Kerry Logistics to invests Rs 1,000 crore in Indev Logistics for 50% stake Business Standard India, 2016-04-13, retrieved 2021-03-16^
  23. Kerry invests Rs 1,000 crore in Indev logistics - Times of India The Times of India, Apr 15, 2016, retrieved 2021-03-16^