Rhenus Logistics has continued the expansion of it global presence with a new office in Réunion, offering end-to-end air and ocean transport solutions to serve the island, the overseas department and the region of France.

The new office is located near Réunion’s Roland Garros Airport, and it is operationally effective starting from January 1, 2023. The IATA-certified office will directly provide and handle international transport services to existing and new clients, thanks to a local dedicated sales and operational team.

The new branch will fully benefit from the Rhenus global network and will be covering the activities in the Indian Ocean for the French overseas departments, with the possibility of adding more locations in the archipelagos in the future. Rhenus will provide the island trade with specific expertise in the Life Sciences and Healthcare, Live Animals and Perishables industries such as food products and flowers.

“We decided to open our office on the island of La Réunion in response to a strong demand from the existing customers. This will enable us to assist our customers directly and to open us to new markets such as Madagascar, Mauritius, the Seychelles, Mozambique and Kenya”, explains Christophe Barreau, Managing Director of Rhenus Air & Ocean in France and responsible for the establishment of the new office on the island of La Réunion.

In 2021, La Réunion imported €6.2 billion worth of goods, while its exports amount to €376 million value. France is the main supplier for the island, with 59 percent of products directly imported, as mentioned by the French Douanes.

In July 2020, a new project called “France Relance” with an overall investment of €100 billion was established by the French government to revive the economy and promote employment for the local population, €546 million of which are intended for La Réunion.

With the continuous growth in the local population as well as the consistent export volumes from Réunion to other Indian Ocean islands, the global logistics specialist aims to become a crucial player in the commercial development of the island, with the unique offer of a customer-centred approach.