Japanese logistics firm Nippon Express expands footprint in Singapore

[SINGAPORE] LOGISTICS company, Nippon Express (NX) opened an expanded 100,000 sq ft facility in Tuas on Friday (Nov 21), increasing the company’s footprint in Singapore by around 30 per cent. “The new warehouse is intended to capitalise on future opportunities from its close proximity to the Tuas Port and the development of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ),” said Andy Tan, vice-president of Nippon Express (Singapore), at the launch of the extended facility.

The entire facility of 40,000 sq m (430,556 sq ft) will boost cross-border trucking with its existing warehouse at the port of Tanjung Pelepas and facilitate distribution in Singapore, said Tan. Around 30 per cent of its warehouse in Tanjung Pelepas stores orders bound for distribution in Singapore, he added.

“In the short term, warehousing and distribution will still have strong demand here,” said Tan. Still, as the cost of warehousing and manpower in Singapore is relatively more expensive than in Malaysia, warehouses in Singapore need to be more productive and offer innovative services, added Tan.

To meet demand and improve the company’s competitiveness, NX Group has been upskilling its workers to improve productivity and investing in equipment with artificial intelligence technology to improve safety, said Tan. In 2024, NX Group participated in Singapore startup, Swat Mobility’s US$7.2 million funding round. The startup provides AI-powered vehicle routing solutions applicable to logistics. “The expansion of NX’s warehouse underscores the growing demand for advanced manufacturing and logistics services in our region,” said Celia Sia, senior vice-president and head of logistics and supply chain management at the Economic Development Board (EDB). Singapore’s manufacturing output increased 16.1 per cent year-on-year in September 2025.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed company has clients across a variety of sectors including semiconductor, pharmaceutical and medical devices. It also has facilities in Changi and Jurong East for air, land and sea freight forwarding.

NX Group opened its first facility in Singapore in 1973. The expansion of its Tuas facility, which is supported by the EDB and JTC Corporation, brings its total footprint in Singapore to more than 1.1 million sq ft.