Cross Border Trucking Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore Market Trends
Category Intelligence on Cross Border Trucking Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore covers the following
- Information relating to market, supply, cost, and pricing analysis
- Hard to find data on cost and TCO models, supplier details, and performance benchmarks
- Macroeconomic and regional trends impacting cost, supply, and other market dynamics
- Category-specific negotiation and sourcing advice
Industry Outlook & Drivers
Regional Market Outlook on Cross Border Trucking
Road is the preferred mode for freight transportation within and also between Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand by shippers from FMCH, F&B and Automobile companies, as it moves about 60 percent of the total freight.
The trucking industry is fragmented in all these countries, due to the presence of more local and regional service providers. As these 2PL companies outsource their trucks to global 3PLs, the industry is dominated by global 3PLS.
Thailand
- The trucking industry in Thailand is highly fragmented with more than 9,623 LSPs involved in road transportation activities
- Majority of the suppliers own <10 trucks and engage with larger road transportation companies/3PLs for maximum truck utilization
- The trucking market is dominated by global 3PL companies, such as DHL, DB Schenker, and few others holding a significant market share, due to the integrated service they provide
Malaysia
- The Malaysian trucking market is highly fragmented, with more than 75% of companies are independent truckers and small to medium scale operators
- Owing to its excellent connectivity, trucking services have become one of the key elements of the commercial logistics industry
- While several local firms have reported sizable market returns, approximately 70% of the industry continues to be dominated by multinationals firms, such as DB Schenker, DHL and Nippon Express
Singapore
- The trucking industry is fragmented with 5,445 registered trucking service providers, where majority of them concentrate on cross border trucking services
- The trucking service providers posted a collective revenue of S$7M in 2016, thereby obtaining a profit of about 20 percent
- The market is dominated by global 3PLs, who mainly outsource trucks from local trucking companies
Cross Border Trucking Market Overview
The average lead time for transporting goods by trucks from Singapore to Thailand is about 3 days, which is almost the same as air freight and much lesser than sea freight.
The border crossings are open for 24 hours everyday for customs clearance, but for goods that are hazardous and dangerous, the customs clearance are carried out only during the business hours.
Logistics Performance Index
LPI is based on the ranking of country's customs, its infrastructure, logistics quality and competence and so on. Singapore is superior to Malaysia and Thailand as the country has very good infrastructure and matured customs clearance.
Transit Time
- 3–4 days between Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand and it is the same as air freight but very lesser compared to sea freight
Transportation Cost
- Air freight is much costlier and sea freight is cheaper than road freight, but to due to lesser lead time, FMCG companies prefer for road freight
Single Point Delivery
- As cross border trucking is mostly carried out in larger trucks and containers, FMCG companies prefer to do a single point delivery between these countries. Post which, with the help of distributors, they carry out secondary transportation
Border Crossings
- Malaysia – Thailand: Crossings at Sadao and Pedang Besar, open for 24 hours
- Malaysia – Singapore: Johor Bahru – Woodlands border, open for 24 hours
Cross Border Supply–Demand Analysis
The supply and demand scenario for cross border trucking is high, as there are many regional players in Malaysia and Thailand, who provide these services and also the volume of goods moved across the border increases every year.
The supply of trucks in the market is high. The average annual utilization rate of trucks in this region is 75% in normal days and the utilization goes beyond 85% during peak seasons.
Supply Demand
- The supply for cross border trucking is high in the region, as there are numerous small Malaysian and Thai land trucking companies, offering FTL service across Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand
- Altogether, the three countries have more than 2 million trucks on road, which are used for goods transportation
- Goods are transported across the border mostly in containers with the help of prime movers as FCL loads, since the profit through LTL/LCL services is very less
- Goods such as natural rubber, retail products, electronics, fish, fresh vegetables and fruits, food products, petroleum and chemicals and furniture are the major commodities driving the demand for cross border trucking services
- With expected rise in traded volume of retail products, petroleum and chemical, it is more likely that freight demand for in-land transportation is expected to grow in the upcoming years
High Utilization
- Singapore and metropolitan cities in Thailand and peninsular Malaysia are expected to have medium to high utilization rate, due to the presence of major industries and logistics hubs
- Utilization exceeds 85 percent between
- December – February (between Singapore and Malaysia), due to the festive season (Chinese New Year
- June – December (between Thailand and other two countries, due to agriculture productivity in Thailand