CJ Logistics

As e-commerce becomes part of everyday life, cross-border shopping continues to grow in both directions, and global freight volumes are steadily increasing. The Korean Wave is expanding beyond K-pop, K-dramas, and K-food to even include defense industries, accelerating the global expansion of Korean companies. In line with this trend, K-Logistics is gaining attention for its fast and reliable delivery services. The COVID-19 pandemic marked a major turning point for the e-commerce industry. With outdoor activities limited, consumers turned to online shopping, and this shift quickly became the new normal. The rapid growth of the e-commerce market was also fueled by businesses that adapted quickly to these changes. As cross-border transactions became more active, Korean e-commerce companies aggressively expanded into overseas markets to explore new revenue opportunities.

Focusing on the U.S. Market Amid Strengthened National Logistics Competitiveness

CJ Logistics America 'Gainesville Center'

Disruptions to the global logistics network are growing due to imbalances between supply and demand in global production, political conflicts across countries, and climate change. This rising risk is clearly reflected in the Federation of Korean Industries’ report on 'Global Issues for 2024', where the deepening global supply chain problem was ranked as the number one concern. In this situation, the United States has become the most critical market. There are two main reasons for it. First, the U.S. is now Korea’s largest export trading partner. By the end of 2023, Korea’s exports to the U.S. surpassed 11 billion dollars for the first time, making the U.S. Korea’s top export destination for the first time in 20 years and 6 months since June 2003, overtaking China. The second reason is that the U.S. is implementing policies to support domestic manufacturing while minimizing logistics supply chain risks between Asia and North America.

The U.S. is currently designing a logistics system centered around its own territory. Logistics patterns that have remained stable for the past 30 years are now shifting, including the movement of major logistics hubs from the West Coast to the East Coast. The U.S. appears to be positioning itself as a central trade hub with Canada and Mexico. As a result, the logistics supply chain between Korea and the U.S. is expected to expand into a broader Korea–North America network. In the mid to long term, logistics links connecting Mexico to the U.S. and Canada to the U.S. are also likely to grow stronger. As a global SCM solutions provider, CJ Logistics is responding to this changing environment by focusing on localizing operations in North America to further drive the global expansion of K-Logistics.

NEXUS, A Project Representing Connection and Centrality

The logistics base in the U.S. is set to become a crucial hub for reaching key markets across the Americas. CJ Logistics began its logistics localization efforts in the U.S. in earnest in 2023, and by the end of 2024, officially broke ground on the construction of a massive logistics center. This marks the first major step in the launch of the large-scale, cross-border 'NEXUS Project' in the United States.

In June 2023, CJ Logistics decided to build a large-scale logistics center in North America in collaboration with the Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC) to meet the surging demand for national logistics and to strengthen the supply chain. To support this effort, the company secured three sites totaling 360,000 square meters in key logistics and distribution hubs such as Chicago and New York, where its U.S. subsidiary already operates. With an investment of approximately KRW 600 billion, full-scale construction is now underway. The project is named 'NEXUS', a combination of 'Next' and 'Us', symbolizing the connection between Korea and the United States. Under this initiative, CJ Logistics will utilize its existing U.S. sites, KOBC will provide the construction funding, and CJ Logistics will take charge of operations. NEXUS also represents a central hub driving the global expansion of K-Logistics and serving as a key base for logistics innovation.

North American Hub Connecting Korea and the Global Market, CJ Logistics' NEXUS Project

As part of the NEXUS Project, CJ Logistics is building large-scale logistics centers in three locations, Elwood and Des Plaines in Illinois, and Secaucus in New Jersey. These facilities will not only help respond effectively to the rapidly growing logistics demand across the U.S. but also enable the company to offer a broader range of logistics solutions to its customers.
 

Set to begin full-scale operations in the first half of 2026, the Elwood Logistics Center will be built on a 295,390㎡ site (approximately 89,355 pyeong), featuring a facility covering 102,775㎡ (around 31,089 pyeong). This center will serve as a key logistics hub for the U.S. Midwest, operating an intermodal hub system that handles the entire process from ambient storage to outbound shipping.

The Elwood site is located adjacent to terminals operated by BNSF and Union Pacific, the largest railroad companies in the U.S., enabling delivery to virtually any region across the country within one to two days. The same applies to the logistics centers planned for Secaucus and Des Plaines. The Secaucus center is strategically positioned near Newark Airport and Port Newark, while the Des Plaines center is close to major consumer markets and airports in New York and New Jersey, allowing for highly efficient logistics operations. Through these developments, CJ Logistics is expected to lead K-Logistics into a new era of enhanced global competitiveness.

Smart Technologies and Cold Chain Projects Supporting the Logistics Network 

What makes CJ Logistics’ large-scale logistics centers in North America stand out is not just their size but the integration of advanced technologies built on years of logistics expertise. These centers incorporate a range of TES (Technology, Engineering, System and Solution) capabilities, along with big data and AI-powered logistics innovations. Automation and optimization technologies such as autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), automated forklifts (AFLs), and smart packaging systems serve as strong differentiators in the global market and further enhance CJ Logistics’ competitiveness. The company’s cold chain infrastructure is also gaining attention. In November 2024, CJ Logistics opened its first cold chain center in Gainesville, Georgia. A major advantage of this facility is its ability to provide customized services for a wide variety of products requiring storage at different temperature levels, including ambient, refrigerated, and frozen.