Interview with
Mr. Vincent Chan, Senior Project Consultant and Mr. Justin Cao, General Manager
For starters, Vincent, please tell us about the history and ownership of TJIF.
Tianjin Juyuan International Forwarding Co., Ltd. (TJIF) was established in July 2022 as a privately-owned company by a young gentleman. “Juyuan” in Chinese stands for “resources gathering”. This is our objective and willingness.
Even though we are a young and small company, our key personnel in the Company have been experienced in project logistics for 16 – 37 years. Before TJIF, we were working together in one well-known privately-owned project logistics company in Tianjin, which was closed because of the owner’s retirement. Since then, the clients kept contacting Justin for his logistics solutions and opinions, so he made up his mind to establish his own company right after the COVID period.
You are originally from Hong Kong. We met there 30 years or more ago. What made you end up in Tianjin, and for how long have you been working in the mainland of China?
Yes, we have known each other for almost 37 years. You are the first foreign guy I met in this business, and we have become old good friends.
In the 80’s, China was developing and growing rapidly; all industries were blooming. And I started in the China import business in a state-owned company in Hong Kong. Since then, I travelled often to where the projects were.
After China joined WTO and more overseas-named enterprises started their own production bases in China for the domestic and export markets, there were more and more exports in industrial project cargo than only consumable light industries products. With the experience gained in import projects to China, occasionally, I got a chance to work in Tangshan China in 2005. In 2007, I settled down in TEDA (today known as the Binhai New District), Tianjin, working as a representative of one German agent for 10 years. Later I joined the aforesaid project logistics company (TJIF) and met Justin. I have been at TJIF to now.
What is the main strength of TJIF in freight forwarding, and are there some modes of transport that you find that TJIF is particularly good at ?
We do mainly industrial projects logistics. Almost 70 % of our activities are in the Oil and Gas Industry. We are also involved in the Cement Industry and some machinery and equipment in construction.
Other than port-to-port shipments in general, we offer door-to-port and door-to-door services to our clients. We will not say we can do every corner in the world. The main trade routes that we cover most are China – Persian Gulf and Africa.
The characteristics of the project cargoes that we handle are always certain in volume, out of gauge and heavy lift units. We work closely with Chinese shipowners and operators in conventional services, and major giant global container lines in general containers, special equipment and on a break bulk basis sometimes.
Other than sea freight, we are also involved in airfreight and cross border trucking from China to Central Asia countries, for example Kazakhstan.
Always reminding ourselves of the name of our company (standing for “resources gathering”), one important resource is our collaborators. Other than shipowners and operators, our trucking team offers options from general lorries to hydraulic multi-axles trailers.
Here is one example of a recent project: In autumn 2023, we moved on road from Sichuan and Hebei a total 42,000 CBM within 21 days to Xingang port for vessel loading. This included heavy lift units of over 60 MT and over-height units of 440 cm.
We often take over-width cargo of over 5 meters in other traffic as well.
We can say we are also good at our port handling services and container freight services. We are regularly moving OOG cargoes with conventional vessels and container vessels. Our chief supercargo with over 20 years experience in loading of vessels and loading + L/S/D of cargo in containers.
Recently, we worked on the modification of cargo dimensions for one client, so that their cargo could be loaded into Hi-Cube containers rather than always paying high logistics costs in special equipment. Besides the cost issue, hard cover containers can provide more protection to their delicate equipment and keep moisture away during the traffic on road and by sea.
In view of clients’ strategic needs in their overseas bases, we are developing our “multi-borders” services in helping them in transfer machinery and equipment between their overseas bases, return of faulty items for repair, and cross trade procurement (like logistics service from their global vendors to their overseas bases).
This year we have moved small projects from the Middle East to China and Kazakhstan; Kazakhstan to Africa, and coming from South America to Africa. This is our new challenge, and we are looking forward to cooperating with the CLC/Cross Ocean members.
Is there currently a lot of project cargo being moved by rail in China or to/from Central Asia & Russia?
Frankly speaking, we are not working too much by rail in China or cross-border to Central Asia and Russia, especially recently due to the tight atmosphere in Russia. Anyhow, another major reason that we seldom consider railways for project cargo is because we do oversize cargoes and always a complete set of production lines. When we have several items over the limitation, we cannot move partially by rail and by truck. Probably other specialists in our network can help us in future.
This year we have been working a couple projects to and from Kazakhstan by trucking together with the members of the CLC Network and will continue,
There are many many freight forwarders in China, and it is not always easy to find whom you can trust. Why do you think that TJIF should be the choice for any overseas company? Do you have all the right “licences” to conduct your business?
Good question! We are working low profile. Up to now, we have not made our own website, but we will make it soon. We just hope people can find information about who we are.
We are proud to say that some clients and a few agents come to us by recommendation, not because you and I are old good friends. We joined the CLC/Cross Ocean Network to focus on business development and healthy cooperation with the Network members.
I will say “Trust” is the main licence for business, so why should we send the same message in screening price and services among dozens of members in other networks? Similarly, we do not want to waste time in writing “model messages” to them as well. When we respond to a message, we will do our best to understand the questions and needs, then write to the sender with our comments and solution(s).
We are a licensed International Forwarding Agent and NVOCC in China.
In order to provide and maintain our services standard, we conform to and have been awarded:
– ISO QSM: GB/T19001-2016/ISO9001:2015
– ISO EMS: GB/T2001-2016/ISO14001:2015
– ISO OHSM: GB/T001-2020/ISO45001:2018
Are you currently a member of any networks?
We are a member of Cross Ocean Project Logistics Network. We will not apply for new membership in other networks in the near future.
Looking into the Chinese crystal ball for 2025, what do you foresee?
Frankly speaking, we are not optimistic. In the coming years, most of the people, especially in traditional light industries products, will be affected by the tariffs in various Countries and the more competitive labour cost in developing Asian Countries, etc. We believe that other colleagues in the project logistics industry also feel that the competition is increasing. More new competitors, who were in general forwarding before, are joining the battlefields.
We believe in one Chinese proverb which translates to something like “opportunities in crisis.” So, we will keep our performance and commitments in projects, and continue steady ahead for new goals!
Finally Vincent, do you have plans to move back to your native Hong Kong again at some point or … ?
I have been living in the northern part of China for 20 years, with heavy air pollution turning the sky grey and then blue sky again (cannot expect too much every day). My colleagues and friends are here, so I will continue to stay in Tianjin. Besides, old men like telling stories and sharing experiences to youngsters, no matter whether they listen or not… I still have listeners!
Anyhow, at some point, I will return to Hong Kong. It is the place where I grew up. Also, the better medical scheme and treatment in Hong Kong is also part of our consideration.
How is it best for our readers to get in touch with you?
Our contact details are below:
Vincent Chan 陈耀祥
Senior Project Consultant
vincent.chan@tjjygj.com.cn
Tel: +86 22 2578 5366； Mob: +86 136 2203 1773
Justin Cao 曹云龙
General Manager
caoyl@tjjygj.com.cn
Tel: +86 22 2578 5366; Mob: +86 13752528139 (As Wechat/同微信)
QQ：345467274
Tianjin Juyuan International Forwarding Co., Ltd.
Rm 529, Jincheng Int’l Trade Bldg, 365 Jingmen Blvd, Binhai New District Tianjin P.R. China 300450
