Commonwealth Kokubu Logistics taps Japan’s Mitsui OSK for regional cold-chain expansion

[SINGAPORE] Commonwealth Kokubu Logistics, together with existing shareholder Kokubu Group, is partnering Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) to strengthen and expand its cold-chain operations in South-east Asia.

Commonwealth Capital Group (CCPL) held a 70 per cent stake in Commonwealth Kokubu Logistics (CKL) before the transaction, and remains the majority shareholder. (*see amendment note)

On Tuesday (Dec 16), the group said the tie-up combines CCPL’s operational expertise, Kokubu Group’s distribution networks and MOL’s global shipping capabilities to strengthen and expand reliable, temperature-controlled food-supply chains across South-east Asia.

CKL, which provides end-to-end supply-chain solutions to food retailers and food-services firms, operates an integrated, multi-temperature logistics campus that supports Singapore’s chilled and frozen food supply.

The company has invested in digitalisation, automation and energy-efficient systems to improve temperature control and reliability. It now plans to extend these capabilities into priority markets in South-east Asia.

A key part of CKL’s growth is its new logistics facility at 8 Jalan Besut in Jurong. The facility has over 500,000 square feet of space and stands more than 100 m tall. It will be fully operational in March 2026, with CKL as the anchor tenant and operator.

The facility is already serving some third-party clients in the food and beverage sector, the group said, without naming the companies.

Andrew Kwan, founder and group managing director of CCPL, said: “As our businesses scale and the region transforms, high-quality cold-chain infrastructure has become essential to food security, operational efficiency and sustainable growth.”

The new development is one of the tallest automated cold-chain food logistics facilities in the world, said CCPL. It incorporates a high-bay automatic storage and retrieval system of about 45 m on the upper levels and is designed to accommodate up to 90,000 pallet positions.

SEE ALSO

Singapore, China exchange 27 agreements to boost cooperation, from financial connectivity to food trade

Commonwealth Kokubu Logistics taps technology to green its cold-chain logistics business 

The facility will be connected to Commonwealth Capital’s existing food manufacturing and logistics site at 7 Buroh Lane. Together, the two sites will offer storage for up to 100,000 pallet positions in ambient, chilled and frozen environments.

CCPL operates across food services, manufacturing and cold-chain logistics. Some F&B brands under its belt include PastaMania, Swissbake and The Soup Spoon.

*Amendment note: An earlier version of this story said CCPL holds a 70 per cent stake in CKL. This was the case before the transaction. The story has been amended to reflect this.