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“We are full of confidence in the Southeast Asian market,” president Jiang Kai told The Business Times.

The Singapore-listed company is a logistic arm of Chinese state-owned shipping giant China Cosco Shipping Corporation.

All of Cosco Shipping International’s consolidated revenue currently comes from its presence in Singapore and Malaysia, with about 87% generated from its operations in the city-state.

It also holds interests in logistics businesses in Indonesia and Vietnam, as well as a stake in a dry-bulk shipping associate operating across the region. These associated companies contributed about a quarter of the group’s profit before tax in its latest results for the first half of 2026.

Despite global trade experiencing a tumultuous few years, with U.S. tariffs and geopolitical conflicts in Ukraine and Iran disrupting shipping routes and supply chains, manufacturing activity remains robust in South-east Asia, Jiang said.

He also sees a recovery in Southeast Asia’s dry-bulk shipping market, which transports industrial inputs such as coal and iron ore, as manufacturing activity strengthens.

Demand for specialized cargo shipping for industrial machinery, automobiles and new energy equipment has also increased as the region continues to develop.

“The growth in Southeast Asia’s shipping industry has similarly generated a stable increase in logistics demand,” he noted.

“Some Chinese manufacturing companies, when expanding into overseas markets, prioritise Southeast Asia as a manufacturing base. This is a long-term positive for us.”

Cosco Shipping International’s revenue rose 6% to SGD96.8 million (US$76 million) in the first half, supported by higher contributions from logistics, ship repair and marine engineering, according to Singapore Business Review.

It has also been expanding in Singpore with the Jurong Island Logistics Hub Phase II a notable project under construction.

The project, its largest investment the city-state, which features upgraded integrated logistics services and is due for completion in the fourth quarter of this year.