Katoen Natie - innovation and economic transformation

This press release was issued by Katoen Natie.

Katoen Natie today announced the development of Jurong Logistics Terminal 5 (JLT5), a next-generation logistics facility designed to support Singapore’s innovation-led economic growth and industrial transformation on Jurong Island.

The development of JLT5 aligns with national priorities championed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr. Gan Kim Yong, who has been instrumental in advancing Singapore’s innovation, research and enterprise agenda. As Singapore continues to invest heavily in research and development, talent creation, and deep-tech ecosystems, JLT5 has been conceptualized to operate within this broader innovation framework.

Designed as a future-ready facility, JLT5 incorporates advanced digital infrastructure, automation-ready systems, and scalable operational capabilities to support productivity-led growth. The development is intended to enable the adoption of emerging technologies and facilitate collaboration across industry partners, technology providers, and government agencies.

Singapore’s approach to innovation has been underpinned by sustained investments in R&D, talent development, and ecosystem building through agencies such as the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), and GovTech. JLT5 has been designed to complement these national efforts by providing infrastructure that enables innovation, operational resilience, and long-term competitiveness, with support from EDB.

Located at 1 Banyan Place within Jurong Island, JLT5 is a two-storey ramp-up warehouse with a gross floor area of approximately 37,000 square metres. The development represents a long-term investment of around SGD 60 million by Katoen Natie, bringing our total investment in Singapore to around SGD 250 million to date, underscoring the company's confidence in Singapore's innovation-driven growth trajectory.

Complementing the JLT5 development, Katoen Natie is also investing in a fully automated 4-way shuttle Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) at the same location, with the support from EnterpriseSG. The ASRS will be planned over two phases of which, phase 1 would span approximately 7,000 square metres, providing around 7,500 pallet positions, and represents an additional investment of SGD 3.1 million, with completion expected in Q4 2026. The system is designed to enhance storage density, operational efficiency, and automation readiness, supporting high-throughput and technology-enabled logistics operations.

JLT5 reflects Katoen Natie’s alignment with Singapore’s innovation-driven growth strategy. By embedding future-ready infrastructure and advanced operational capabilities, the development aims to support productivity, resilience, and the continued evolution of Jurong Island as a strategic industrial hub. Upon full operation, JLT5 is expected to create over 25 jobs within the Singapore market, including some upskilling of our existing workforce to support AI adoption and maintenance work on our ASRS.

In line with Katoen Natie’s long-term sustainability and decarbonization strategy, the JLT5 development will incorporate a large-scale rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system with a total capacity of approximately 2.7 MWp, capable of generating an estimated 3,379 MWh of renewable energy annually. This milestone builds on Katoen Natie’s progressive expansion of solar infrastructure in Singapore, beginning with its initial rooftop solar installation in 2014, followed by an expansion in 2018. Katoen Natie was also the first company on Jurong Island to export excess solar-generated electricity back to the grid using blockchain-enabled energy trading technology. Beyond infrastructure, solar-generated power is integrated into operations through solar-powered automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and electric forklift fleets, creating an end-to-end low-carbon logistics ecosystem. With the commissioning of JLT5, Katoen Natie will be among the largest industrial rooftop solar operators in Singapore, underscoring its leadership in sustainable industrial infrastructure, further validated by recognition from EDB through the Solar Pioneer Awards (2014), and reinforcing its commitment to supporting Singapore’s clean energy transition.

The development of JLT5 reinforces Katoen Natie’s commitment to supporting Singapore’s economic transformation through innovation, enterprise collaboration, and sustainable industrial growth.