CBRE Supports Expansion of China-Japan Logistics Network for SINOTRANS AIR JAPAN

CBRE (headquarters: Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) is pleased to announce that it has advised and mediated the rental agreement for SINOTRANS AIR JAPAN CO., LTD.’s (hereinafter referred to as SINOTRANS AIR JAPAN) new facility, expanding their logistics network in the country. SINOTRANS AIR JAPAN is the Japanese subsidiary of Sinotrans Air Transportation Development Co., Ltd. (Sinotrans), China’s largest general logistics company.

SINOTRANS AIR JAPAN appointed CBRE in June 2022 and requested a cross-docking logistics facility in the central Tokyo Bay area that could handle a significant volume of loading and unloading. Compared to the Gaikando, Route 16, and Ken-o-do areas, rampway-equipped facilities are rare in the Tokyo Bay area. In other words, cross-docking-capable vacancies are almost never seen. To combat this, CBRE leveraged its close network of facility owners to gather exclusive information about potential vacancies. CBRE also remained in close contact with the client, gauging immediate feedback once a potential property had been identified. As a result of this, in just a few months, CBRE was able to find and secure an approximately 2,000m2 facility in the Tokyo Bay area. The facility is planned to be open in December 2022 and will function as a cross-border e-commerce logistics center.

Kazuhiko Yamaguchi, head of logistics for SINOTRANS AIR JAPAN, and this project lead, commented, “The sudden, recent expansion of the e-commerce sector has meant that the amount of freight - especially apparel - shipped from mainland China is increasing every year. As our business supports the import of such freight from China to Japan, our business needs have also rapidly expanded. The COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated this trend, leaving our existing logistics facility in Koto-ku unable to handle demand. A new facility in the Tokyo Bay area which would allow us to streamline and upgrade our operations was critical. We are extremely grateful to CBRE for swiftly securing a property for us in the highly sought-after Tokyo Bay area. The new facility will allow us to continue to offer the high-quality logistics services our company is known for.”

Hirosato Fujiwara (Senior Consultant, Industrial & Logistics, Advisory & Transaction Services) also added, “As a result of the explosion in e-commerce, many China-based logistics companies are considering expanding their logistics network. In this case, our client asked us to find a property suitable for a new cross-docking logistics facility, which is uncommon, and on top of that, in the highly-sought after central Tokyo Bay area, where they are even rarer. Knowing the complexity of this project, we prioritized speed in all our consultations. Thanks to efficient, daily communications, we managed to deliver on the client’s request. We will use the learnings from this project to continue to provide high value-added services to our clients.”

＜Project Outline＞

Facility Exterior

CBRE department involved: Industrial & Logistics, Advisory & Transaction Services Client : SINOTRANS AIR JAPAN CO., LTD. Facility : SINOTRANS AIR JAPAN Tokyo Import Export Centre Location : Shinsuna 2-5-28, Koto-ku, Tokyo Planned opening : December 2022 Size : Approx. 2,000㎡ within a single building CBRE’s role : Advisory and mediation services for facility lease

Facility Exterior

CBRE department involved: Industrial & Logistics, Advisory & Transaction Services Client : SINOTRANS AIR JAPAN CO., LTD. Facility : SINOTRANS AIR JAPAN Tokyo Import Export Centre Location : Shinsuna 2-5-28, Koto-ku, Tokyo Planned opening : December 2022 Size : Approx. 2,000㎡ within a single building CBRE’s role : Advisory and mediation services for facility lease

For inquiries about this project
Hirosato Fujiwara, Senior Consultant, Industrial & Logistics, Advisory & Transaction Services
[email protected] TEL 090 7627 2181 

About CBRE Advisory & Transaction Services: Industrial & Logistics
Making use of robust data analytics and many years of experience and knowhow developed by working with Japan’s industrial and logistics market, CBRE Industrial & Logistics provides property solutions tailored to the specific requirements of our clients’ businesses. We deliver scalable solutions for clients across the fields of property sales and leasing, asset management, supply chain design, and business case rationalization, including analyzing economics, labor, and freight costs.