Pyeongtaek Port aims to lead Korea‘s ports and logistics industry by strengthening a partnership with Chinese companies and focusing on the port’s hinterland complex.

“We have a goal of handling a total volume of 600,000 20-foot (6.1 meters) equivalent units this year,” Choi Gwang-il, CEO of Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek Port Corp. said in an interview with The Korea Herald this week. 


“In order to achieve the goal, we will continue to strengthen the partnership with Chinese companies as well as explore new markets in Southeast Asia,” Choi said.

Last year, Pyeongtaek Port handled 566,000 20-foot equivalent units even amid a global economic slowdown, a 3.5 percent rise from the previous year, and it also transported more than 100 million tons of cargo.

In line with the growth of China’s online-to-offline commerce, a business strategy that draws potential customers from online channels to physical stores, the port corporation plans to set up an e-commerce integration logistics platform.

The platform, which offers one-stop logistics services from order to delivery, will be operated within the marine center of the port to better support local exporters.

The chief also said the corporation “will focus on giving shape to the port‘s hinterland complex within this year.”

The port’s hinterland complex is part of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ plans announced in January. The government said it would set up hinterland complexes at eight ports nationwide by 2020 and select relevant business developers around July.

When completed, the hinterland complex in Pyeongtaek is expected to create 1.8 trillion won ($1.5 billion) in economic effects and around 5,000 new jobs.

Lastly, the chief said, “We also plan to increase cargo volume by actively introducing the port’s logistics environment, competitiveness and cost-cutting effect to our key clients at home and abroad.”

Pyeongtaek Port, which was opened in 1986, has transported more than 100 million tons of cargo each year for the past four years. The port also transported 1.5 million cars last year, ranking first in handling vehicles in the last six years.

By Shin Ji-hye and Park Joung-kyu (shinjh@heraldcorp.com) (fob140@heraldcorp.com)