Brilliant International Logistics Co., Ltd.
Ningbo, China Site Visit
January 28, 2015
By
Eric Xiang

Key Personnel:
Mr. Alex Gao, Overseas Manager

Brilliant International Logistics Co., Ltd. is a Ningbo-based logistics company with 150 employees. The company started in ocean freight forwarding in 2004.

Brilliant Logistics has an NVOCC (non-vessel operating common carrier) license and contracts with the main carriers COSCO, CSCL, Evergreen, MSC, Maersk, ZIM, etc. Brilliant Logistics acts as a booking agent in Ningbo for most of these carriers. Its annual cargo volume is 20,000 TEUs (twenty-foot container equivalent units).

Sixty percent of the TEUs handled come from local, small logistics companies, 20% come from direct customers, and 20% come from overseas agents. The primary destinations are Europe, the Far East, and Southeast Asia with a small amount destined to North America. The shippers are mainly located in the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Anhui. Singfun Electric Group and Wanfeng Auto Wheel Group are customers.

Brilliant Logistics has its own customs broker and a good relationship with Ningbo customs enabling it to handle customs clearance smoothly and provide competitive service to customers. Brilliant Logistics has its own trucking company with 40 of its own tractors for transporting containers. During peak season, it uses subcontractors’ trucks and tractors.

In the Ningbo Port area, Brilliant Logistics operates two warehouses. One is rented and the other is in cooperation with a partner. Brilliant Logistics can provide buyer consolidation service in the port which can save on costs for overseas buyers.

Other than ocean freight forwarding, Brilliant Logistics is Class A licensed for air freight. All air shipments are shipped via the HKG and ICN airports as there are no direct international flights that depart from Ningbo destined to North America and Europe. Air freight is a small portion of the business.

Brilliant Logistics pays a lot of attention to IT systems. It uses the Cargo 2000 system for shipment booking and tracking. Customers can track shipments via the internet.

According to Mr. Alex Gao, Brilliant Logistics is interested in developing business in North America and South America. It wants to find a qualified partner to set up a joint venture company or even buy a small logistics company. Brilliant Logistics understands that the China-US lane is the biggest lane in the market and many good opportunities are in this lane.

Although its only location is Ningbo, Brilliant Logistics does not plan to set up its own offices in other cities in China. It uses agents if business develops in other cities. The reason being is Ningbo people are very closed in their local business opportunities. If Brilliant Logistics builds a network in China or finds the right partner in the U.S., more opportunities for growth should arise.