PSA BDP is a global supply chain solutions partner and a member of the PSA Group, a leading global port operator and trusted partner to cargo stakeholders. PSA BDP provides end-to-end supply chain, transportation, logistics, and digital solutions.
How did you first get involved in the transportation logistics industry, and what led to your current role?
I have been with PSA since 2012, but my career in transportation and logistics spans over 20 years. I began with Temasek, which is a key shareholder in PSA and Singapore Airlines. Throughout my career, I’ve worked across air, sea, and land transportation and held roles in operations, investments, restructuring, and senior leadership. Before becoming CEO of PSA BDP, I was PSA’s Regional CEO for the Middle East and South Asia and led global business development and M&A.
In 2021, during the height of COVID-19, I got to know the BDP International team. Their work was impressive, and we completed the transaction in April 2022 as part of PSA Group’s growth and development. It’s been a journey of learning and firming up the value proposition of integrating PSA BDP into the world’s largest container terminal operator, leveraging 60 years of port and logistics expertise.
Supply chain challenges are among the most commonly cited problems going into 2025. How does PSA BDP’s work mitigate this pain point?
We focus on multi-modal solutions, integrating air, sea, land, and digital technologies. Visibility, automation, and global coordination are critical, so we provide tools like control towers and data-driven insights to enhance efficiency. Risk management has been a significant area, especially with increasing supply chain disruptions. These disruptions, once rare events, now occur every 2 to 3 months, such as the Red Sea crisis and tariff-related container scrambles.
Additionally, we support customers with change management, helping them adapt to complex organizational structures and transformations. For decades, we have served some of the largest chemical companies in the world, who have relied on us through their expansions, spin-offs, and acquisitions. Beyond planning and risk management, execution remains crucial. PSA BDP serves as a lead logistics provider, offering services like contract logistics, trade management, and even 4PL digital services to ensure cargo flows seamlessly across global networks.
Looking back at 2024, how have geopolitical tensions impacted industry operations and supply chains for your customers?
This year, the Red Sea crisis and the conflict in the Middle East have caused significant disruptions. Ongoing negotiations with the ILA (The International Longshoremen's Association) in the U.S. East Coast, while brief, highlighted the need for pre-emptive action. It is important for customers to consider front-loading shipments to mitigate risks and avoid rolling the dice with uncertain conditions.
Automation remains a contentious issue in North America. To counter these challenges, we identify alternative routing options for our customers’ consideration. The Middle East conflict has also presented transportation challenges, as carriers must carry extra fuel due to route diversions, reducing payload capacity. These challenges underline the importance of proactive risk mitigation and flexibility in supply chain operations.
What is PSA BDP’s approach to helping customers navigate new tariffs and geopolitical shifts?
The world is increasingly polarized, and we’ve seen heightened demand for trade compliance and supply chain restructuring advice. We help customers optimize costs by leveraging free trade agreements and redesigning their supply chain networks. This includes relocating manufacturing plants and distribution centers to align with new geopolitical realities.
My visits to China this year revealed a growing focus on bifurcating supply chains and revising strategies amidst tensions. Similarly, in regions like the Middle East and Southeast Asia, we see supply chain shifts creating growth opportunities. Our network of ports and logistics hubs positions us to support customers navigating these changes.
This year, PSA BDP opened offices in Portugal and the Philippines. Can you share other expansion plans and the drivers behind them?
In Türkiye, our acquisition of Alisan Logistics in 2023 added significant capabilities in the chemical industry, particularly for dangerous goods. Türkiye’s strategic importance as a hub for Europe and the chemical sector makes it a key market despite challenges like hyperinflation. Similarly, in Portugal, we opened an office in Lisbon to complement the Port of Sines, enhancing intermodal solutions for continental Europe.
In the Philippines, filling gaps in our Southeast Asia network aligns with increased activity in the region. These expansions reflect our commitment to long-term investments that strengthen our global supply chain capabilities in support of customer demand.
How is PSA BDP leveraging sustainability and technology to support customers’ carbon reduction goals?
We’ve developed carbon emissions tracking tools that provide accurate emissions data, enabling customers to monitor and reduce their environmental impact. A standout initiative was a collaboration with PSA’s Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals to establish a green EV trucking corridor in Mumbai, India, where we transitioned from fossil-based energy to solar power within just one year. This project required overcoming policy challenges but has significantly reduced carbon emissions.
Additionally, we’ve worked with stakeholders to establish dedicated green lane access for EV trucks, improving efficiency and adoption. But we’re not stopping there; we see an opportunity to increase the scale of “green lanes” where we can leverage PSA’s network around the world. We’ve also been able to make some advances in Latin America and Singapore, where we have embarked on multi-modal solutions like barging. By integrating sustainability into our operations and collaborating closely with customers, we aim to drive systemic change while ensuring economic viability.
