Although the global supply chain continues to face challenges, companies worldwide have discovered innovative ways to navigate them. New Silk Road Network’s member from China, DSI Logistics, is surely one of them. Based in Qingdao, it is one of the largest privately owned companies in the region and offers a wide range of logistics solutions tailored to its customers' needs. Through every challenge, DSI Logistics has carved out opportunities for itself and continues to leverage and expand into regions beyond its home ground. 

In our interview with Gina, DSI Logistics’ Overseas Director, we learn about the company's growth and its flourishing business across Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Drawing on her experience as an air freight specialist, Gina highlights how DSI developed its international reach through a customer-centric approach. She also discusses the company’s capabilities, including handling project cargo and dangerous goods. Finally, she underscores the importance of a dedicated and enthusiastic sales team, which stands as the backbone of their business.  

NSRN: DSI Logistics was established over two decades ago. Tell us about the history of DSI Logistics, how it gathered success over the years, and its future operational expansions in the EU?

Gina: DSI Logistics was founded in 2004. Since the company first started, it has focused on client service and long-term partnerships by delivering reliable solutions. From the beginning, our motto was that growth comes from putting clients first and consistently exceeding expectations.

Over the past 22 years, DSI Logistics has transformed into the largest privately owned freight forwarding company in Qingdao, with over 300 employees across a wide range of services and support functions. While market opportunities and developments have certainly contributed to our growth, our success has always been driven by our people. Our leadership believes that finding the right talent is one of the most important factors in building a successful company. And so, we make sure we always have people who are intelligent, proactive, and willing to take initiative, collaborate, and continuously improve.

(Picture Credit: DSI Logistics)

One of our core principles at the company is that 1+1 can be greater than 2, meaning that, at DSI Logistics, we have built an environment where we support each other and work towards common goals to unlock our team’s full potential. We encourage each other to develop professionally, challenge ourselves, and strive for the best. This positive and motivated culture has always driven our sales and helped us reach new heights. One of our significant milestones came during the pandemic, when we expanded into charter flight services. This opened a new market for us and helped us tackle any pandemic-related challenges. We have a strong air freight team that offers seamless solutions to our clients.

Looking ahead, Europe is definitely an important market for us, and we see many opportunities there. We have been exploring the idea of establishing operations in Germany, and finding the right local talent has proven a bit challenging, since we want to make sure we have the right people on the ground there. So far, this has not proved successful, so we have changed our strategy, adopting an agent-based model and working closely with trusted partners to expand our presence across Europe.

NSRN: We would like to learn more about your role as the Overseas Director at DSI Logistics and what your journey there has been like for you in the company. We also understand that you have a strong background in airfreight. Tell us more about these capabilities in DSI, how they were developed, and what markets they capture?

Gina: As the Overseas Director at DSI Logistics, my primary goal has been to develop our international network and strengthen our relationships with our overseas partners and customers. Throughout my time at DSI Logistics, I have worked closely with the team to extend our global reach and build connections that support both our air and ocean freight services. It is incredible to see how far we have come together.

Professionally, I have a background rooted in airfreight, with strong sales capabilities. Over the years, I leveraged my industry relationships, market knowledge, and experience to strengthen DSI’s air freight service. Our sales team has also benefited from these connections and insights, allowing us to expand into new regions over the years. Although air freight has been my forte, with DSI Logistics, I have also developed ocean freight. Together, both these services support each other, and by further integrating flexible end-to-end solutions, we can assist a wide range of industries.  

As mentioned, the COVID pandemic not just defined DSI Logistics but also shaped my career. The global supply chain was under immense pressure, and transportation capacity was becoming a major challenge. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, I organized a series of charter flights between China and Brazil. It was an extremely challenging and demanding venture, with many uncertainties along the way. But by maintaining close collaboration with our Brazilian agent and, more importantly, with a dedicated sales team, we successfully chartered 6 full freighter flights.  

This is a great example of what DSI can do when faced with challenges. We are equipped to innovate, adapt, and execute complex logistics solutions, and our sales teams rigorously work to generate cargo volumes to make such projects possible.

I am proud to play a meaningful role in shaping the company’s future and strengthening our position both locally and globally.  I am deeply committed to my work at DSI, and hope to continue being here for decades to come.

NSRN: Your operational focus spans across Asia and Europe. What strategic directions is DSI Logistics considering with regard to the direction of China’s export business? Are there any developing trade corridors, and how is DSI Logistics leveraging them?

Gina: At DSI Logistics, our strategy is very simple: we follow our clients. As global manufacturing patterns evolve, many companies are relocating their production facilities outside China to countries such as Thailand and Vietnam, so we have decided to establish a presence in those regions as well. By doing so, we are able to maintain close relationships with our clients and continue to manage their logistics needs. Today, we handle almost all their cargo moving through Thailand and Vietnam and provide the same level of service they have come to expect from our China operations.

(Picture Credit: DSI Logistics)

We always closely monitor other emerging manufacturing hubs. Many factories are now being established in North Africa or are seeking alternative production bases. These shifts give us the opportunity to develop new trade corridors and solutions, and, in this way, DSI actively works to increase its presence in emerging regions.

From a Chinese export perspective, we see many opportunities in several key markets. Latin America remains a major area of focus and is also one of our strongest regions. Africa, too, is a growing market with long-term potential. For many of our customers, Russia holds strategic value as a corridor and trade lane. At the same time, Europe is also one of the core markets for DSI, as we expand our international network and deepen our relationships in the region.

NSRN: Furthermore, regarding your Latin American operations, how do the business environment and operational complexity compare with those in your established markets in Asia and Europe? What regional nuances have you encountered that require different approaches?

Gina: Latin America is a highly important region for us. Simultaneously, it is one of the more complex regions where we operate.  While the fundamentals of logistics and business logic remain the same in Asia versus LATAM, there are several regional characteristics that require deeper knowledge and a strong operational approach.

From an ocean freight perspective, the basic principles are the same between the US and LATAM. But LATAM trade lanes often place greater emphasis on documentation accuracy and regulatory compliance, making attention to detail a key component of the business. As a result, our team has a disciplined approach to maintaining documentation accuracy and avoiding mistakes. Air freight to the region also poses its own challenges. Unlike some more direct trade lanes, such as those between Asia and Europe, many LATAM shipments have multi-leg flight routes. It is common for cargo to move on one airline for the first leg and then transfer to another carrier for the final leg. This requires careful coordination between multiple service providers and a thorough understanding of the process, capacity management, and invoicing.

Brazil, in particular, stands out as a complex market in LATAM. The country has unique regulatory requirements and customs processes that require extensive local knowledge. Successful air freight operations to Brazil are carried out in close coordination with our partners, and throughout the process, we ensure the cargo moves safely and smoothly.

Despite these layers, the underlying idea remains the same: customers require reliability, transparency, and efficient service. Our strong suit is our understanding of these regional complexities, which we build on by combining our strong local relationships with our expertise.

NSRN: OOG, bulk, and hazardous cargo require specialized knowledge and a strong company infrastructure. How does DSI Logistics set itself apart from its competitors? Moreover, what challenges arise when moving this kind of cargo between China and Europe, particularly in terms of planning, regulations, or logistics?

Gina: OOG, bulk, and dangerous goods require more than regular forwarding capabilities. At DSI, we have dedicated departments focused on pricing, solution design, operational planning, and execution, ensuring that every project is managed by a group of professionals with deep industry expertise.

(Picture Credit: DSI Logistics)

For project cargo and OOG, our team works closely with customers from the early planning stages. Since every project is unique, detailed planning and coordination across teams are essential. Dangerous goods logistics requires an even higher level of attention and compliance, for which we have a dedicated team focused on DG operations. Our specialists are proficient in reviewing documents to ensure that no minor errors are present that can cause delays, additional inspections, or shipment rejections.

When it comes to transporting OOG, bulk, and DG between China and Europe, the most critical challenge remains regulatory frameworks and documentation; thus, it matters that we have professionals who are able to anticipate challenges and stay up to date on any changes. We have had many opportunities to work with major chemical exporters in China and other customers with demanding logistics requirements, allowing us to continue developing our expertise in these sectors.

But what truly sets DSI logistics apart is the combination of our technical knowledge and commercial capacities. Having knowledge is critical, but it is equally important to learn how to apply it to create value for customers. This is why we have built an ambitious sales team that combines operational knowledge with commercial execution to recognize opportunities, develop tailored solutions, and grow our company.