End-to-end logistics solutions provider Royal Cargo takes pride in its rich history spanning four decades of serving the local market while making a mark in the global arena. The Filipino multinational company is directing its sights toward bigger things as it draws upon a legacy of overcoming challenges.
From its humble beginnings in 1976 with only two people in a rented table space in Makati, the company has expanded to 13 other countries with more than 2,000 personnel. From its early years, the company has established a foothold from northern Luzon to down south in Davao.
“Passion fueled the dream of building Royal Cargo and serving not just local but international clients as well,” said Royal Cargo founder and group chief executive Michael Raeuber.
In the 1990s, the company embarked on its first milestone project: the fast-track transport of a power plant in La Union. Besides showcasing capability in this field, the project addressed the perennial problem at that time, the power shortages.
In 1992, Raeuber entrusted the leadership of the project and heavy lift operations to his business partner, Elmer Sarmiento.
After successfully establishing its presence locally and opening branches abroad, the company diversified into other businesses such as food processing. It did not pan out as expected, and the company incurred huge losses caused by its main customer defaulting. Nonetheless, the company honored all its financial obligations by restructuring existing loans.
By 2003, the company has become a trusted name in integrated logistics solutions, handling international freight forwarding, warehousing and distribution, project transportation and heavy haulage, trucking, moving and storage, free port logistics, eco-zone logistics, liquid solutions, and shipping.
The company’s revenue jumped from P165 million in 2003 to P4.3 billion in 2017, with company assets growing from P241.43 million to P4.9 billion and net income from P6.28 million to P638 million during the same period.
During the same year, Royal Cargo realized one of its long-term investment plans: its first solar-powered cold storage warehouse in the country. Located in Binan, Laguna, this warehouse was completed in 2016.
In 2017, the company kicked off the construction of its biggest cold storage facility by far, on a 6-hectare property in Plaridel, Bulacan.
“Royal Cargo is more than just an end-to-end logistics provider. We deliver as needed. Apart from delivering power plants, cement ball mills, wind mills, we are bringing products that people consume to convenience stores and supermarkets nationwide,” Sarmiento said.
