Driving Technology in the Logistics and Transport Fields

Q: What led to the creation of ALMU, and how have you come to serve the oil and gas industry?

A: ALMU was established 39 years ago to cater to Negromex, a client of Tresguerras, which needed logistics services for a specific division of its production that Tresguerras was unable to transport. ALMU was formed when a new company entered this niche market in association with the original owner of Transportes Castores. We began with the transportation of class three petrochemicals. The accumulated 60 years of experience from both companies was fundamental to consolidating processes that would normally have been part of a long learning curve. Our association with Tresguerras provides our company with many benefits, and we always seek to transfer savings to our partners. In terms of our offerings to the oil and gas industry, the equipment we own is able to transport fuel, solvents, lubricants, and products derived from petroleum. We currently focus mainly on the transportation of solvents, which takes up 60% of our fleet capacity, while fuel and lubricants respectively represent 30% and 10%.

Q: What opportunities do changes in the oil and gas market bring for ALMU, and what other trends will play in your favor?

A: It is difficult to predict the real influence changes in the market will have on ALMU. Nonetheless, we believe Round One will bring a stronger transportation infrastructure to the country, as a result of the construction of new refineries and oil wells that will need to be connected to other facilities or areas in an efficient manner. Carriers will have to modernize their fleet and acquire specialized equipment to keep up with the new standards, something few companies will be able to do. This is where we believe we have a significant opportunity to seize. The Energy Reform, however, might also have a negative impact on our company due to its effect on the petrochemical industry. It seems that because of the opening of the petrochemical industry, PEMEX will struggle to maintain market share. The NOC’s logistics division will change the company’s infrastructure to such an extent that we could potentially become direct competitors. We also expect tariffs to drop because of an excess in the supply of logistics. Nevertheless, we hope that new companies will arrive with higher logistics requirements, as ALMU has been eagerly preparing for a year. We also hope the 2017 approval for gasoline transport increases our business opportunities, allowing us to buy our supplies in a direct way and at a more competitive price.

Q: What is your current client base, and how do you plan on expanding it?

A: Our current clients are chemical product retailers. In addition to seeking more customers, we aim to increase our present operations and the activities of our new business line. Since our strategy is to adapt to the need of our clients, we are seeking to diversify our offering in terms of equipment. We will respond to our clients’ new demands through service contracts that would ensure a dedicated service, and also investment recovery on our side. The fact that we are officially SARI certified for the chemical industry will undoubtedly help us attract new companies by providing quality assurance and sustainability, as well as environmental responsibility. We plan to make these prospective clients aware of ALMU’s offering through presentations, recommendations, and access to bids. Starting last year, we have been participating in various specialized forums and expositions in order to access these new opportunities.