Airspeed eyes office expansion in ASEAN
Airspeed is targeting the world’s major manufacturing countries and those that might be affected by the United States’ higher tariffs under the Trump administration. For example, Airspeed can help increase delivery transactions for coconut powder between Vietnam, Manila and Mexico
Airspeed chief executive officer and chairman Rosemarie Rafael
Photo Courtesy of Airspeed
Airspeed, a business-to-business logistics firm and part of SM Investments Corp., is exploring office expansion in the ASEAN region as it takes advantage of the low tariffs and trade agreements between ASEAN member-states.
Airspeed chief executive officer and chairman Rosemarie Rafael said the new offices will add to the firm’s sole offshore unit in Los Angeles, USA.
“We’re looking at the ASEAN countries first like Vietnam and Cambodia because of our similarities. We can complement the products that they have,” she told the media in a recent awards ceremony by an online magazine.
“We want to go beyond point-to-point transactions,” she added.
Airspeed delivers goods to 90 countries through land, sea, or air transport.
Rafael said Airspeed is targeting the world’s major manufacturing countries and those that might be affected by the United States’ higher tariffs under the Trump administration.
For example, Rafael said Airspeed can help increase delivery transactions for coconut powder between Vietnam, Manila and Mexico.
“For coconut powder, the tariff for Manila to Mexico is 15 percent but Vietnam to Mexico is 0 percent,” she said.
Wide range of products
Aside from agricultural products, Rafael said Airspeed can serve businesses offering a wide range of products.
“We export semiconductors and agricultural products that are very limited, too. We like to capture the other products imported by other countries in other countries,” she said.
Before US President Donald Trump was reelected, the Philippines ratified the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in February 2023.
The RCEP aims to gradually reduce tariffs on various goods from the ASEAN members and five other countries over a 20-year period.
Aside from the Philippines, RCEP signatories include Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, South Korea and China.
For this year, Rafael sees Airspeed attracting more business in the second half as firms roll out their plans and new trade policies take effect.