Ahlers Group to strengthen presence in India through diversification

To set up chemical warehouses and forge tie-ups, Belgium-based Ahlers Group, which provides maritime and logistics services, said it is planning to strengthen its presence in India by diversifying and focusing on chemical logistics business.

The company has plans to hire industry specialists in its chemical logistics team. Speaking to reporters in Chennai today Christian Leysen, executive chairman, Ahlers NV, Belgium, said the company intends to bring in the chemical logistics expertise to India from its subsidiaries in Europe and other countries.

“We will be setting up chemical warehouses and will be forging tie-ups with local partners for this vertical. By 2018, this vertical will be a big-ticket one and major revenue will be accrued from this business,” he said.

The logistics company, which had set up its Indian base 10 years ago, has been focussing on freight forwarding along with project cargo management. In 2012-2013, Ahlers Group clocked turnover of over $275 million, of which Ahlers India contributed around 9%.

"Our goal is to increase world wide turnover to $400 million by 2018 and Ahlers India targets to do 12%."Ahlers India’s revenue is about Rs105 crore and is expected to be Rs 210 crore by 2018. Currently 49% of the revenue comes from western region, 30% from Southern Region, 15% northern region and 6% by eastern region Laysen said, India is an important market and it was untapped.

"To untap the potential, adequate investment incentives, updating regulatory policies, and planned infrastructure projects are the preconditions for Indian logistics market to go to its full potential and contribute to the economic development at highter speed.

”In India, 60% of company's revene comes from network business - door to door international transportation, while 25% from the project cargo managementand the balance 15% from the industry specific logistics such as oil & gas, chemicals and tobacco.Ahlers also said it is open to join hands with local players, who offers warehousing solutions to chemical logistics and transferring its global knowledge and expertise into the Indian market.

Pradeep Joseph, managing director,Ahlers India said, “Our focus now is to expand our services and exploit the growing opportunity in chemical warehousing,infrastructure development and the growing industries like automotive, engineering and construction.” he said, besides chemical logistics,project cargo movement has big potential for the company in India asa number of infrastructure companies are engaged in projects outside the country.