The Amarit Group is a 100% Thai shareholder-owned holding company with two affiliated companies, Amarit and Associates (AA) and Amarit and Associates Logistics (AAL). Both affiliates are headquartered in Bangkok and operate primarily in Songkhla, Chonburi, and Bangkok. They both serve clients in the petrochemical industry, primarily oil and natural gas producers and excavators, but have recently signed a service contract with a company who produces, sources, and manages oil pipelines for oil producer companies.

Although AA and AAL are serving the same industry and provide services that are linked between each other, they both specialize in different activities. AA provides general representative and stewardship services; including customs clearance, personnel transport, food supply and equipment sourcing, personnel recruitment for on-shore and off-shore operations, and visa and work permit services for foreign personnel. AAL on the other hand, provides all kinds of logistics related services. These services include vehicle leasing, transportation services, office, operation ground and warehouse leasing, 24/7 security services, warehousing and storage area management, and all types of container transportation and maintenance. Both arms of the company strive for innovative services to provide a complete one-stop service for their clients.

In this issue, LM had the pleasure of hosting a conversation between Amarit Group representatives Mr. Kittipant Visuddhidham, Chief Executive Officer; Ms. Suphavadee Visuddhidham, Executive Director; Ms. Aomjai Visuddhidham, Financial Analyst; and Mr. Romsai Visuddhidham, Assistant Operations Manager. Together, they revealed their shared goal of expanding upon their decades of services and reflecting on their future vision of the company.

Providing a Specialty Service

The Amarit Group was established in 1970 by Mr. Amarit Wisuthitham and Mr. Prawat Saengsuwan as a partnership, with their first office location in Songkhla. “Initially, we provided investment possibility analysis and study, with the goal of helping our clients establish companies. We also began to offer customs clearance services for foreign oil and gas excavation concessionaires, including immigration documentation and labor contracts to help facilitate any interactions with government authorities,” Mr. Kittipant Wisuthitham said.

Years after the initial operations of Amarit and Associates (AA) began, Mr. Amarit Wisuthitham came to realize the huge potential of the oil and gas industry in Thailand and decided to start Amarit and Associates Logistics (AAL) in 1982. This new venture was established in response to the growing needs their clients expressed for logistics services. Mr. Kittipant Wisuthitham explained: “AAL serves the oil and gas industry similar to AA, but concentrates its efforts onto the logistical side of the business. Services includes the leasing of warehouses, operating spaces, lift trucks, cranes, transportation vehicles, and other tools and equipment per our clients’ requirements.”

Adding to Their Arsenal

Operating with a fleet of over 50 trailers, 12 cranes, and 42 forklift trucks solely owned by AAL; and over 80 acres of warehouse and operational space in Songkhla, Chonburi, and Bangkok with over 700 staff, AAL and the Amarit Group have a strong base already established to expand their network of services. They recently expanded their operating grounds in Songkhla at Amphur Sahinknakorn to accommodate the needs of a client who produces, sources, and manages oil pipelines for oil producing companies. They have also strengthened their forklift truck capabilities with four new Hyster® 16-ton heavy-duty forklift trucks, specially equipped with a tool to help lift large oil pipes. Leasing out these tools to newly signed customers, the new heavy-duty forklift trucks will be involved in lifting and moving 2 to 7-inch diameter pipes, each weighing around 800 – 1,000 kilograms.

“Our decision in acquiring Hyster® forklift trucks was based on their quality, efficiency, durability, and long servicing life. Our clients will need to operate them for at least 16 hours every day, so the machines must be strong and hardy with high operating reliability. We believe Hyster is our answer, as we have 7-ton Hyster® forklift trucks in our fleet and they are impressive in both efficiency and quality. With some of the Hyster® forklifts in our fleet as old as four decades and still running strong with minimal maintenance required, we had no hesitation when we decided to purchase four brand new forklift trucks assembled from their high quality Dutch manufacturing facility. We look forward to the high quality and long servicing life these machines will give to us. Moreover, as a sole agent for Hyster in Thailand for more than 30 years; Dilok and Sons Co.,Ltd. has a network of branch offices to support their customers all over the country, especially in Songkhla and Chonburi where Amarit Group operates. For these reasons, we are even more committed and happy with their services both before and after the sale,” said Mr. Romsai Wisuthitham.