BJ Mercantile Inc. Celebrates 50 Years of Innovation and Growth

BJ Mercantile Inc. (BJM) marked its 50th anniversary with a grand celebration titled “The Making of a Gold,” showcasing its evolution from a humble importer of used engines in 1974 to a diversified conglomerate spanning automotive, transport, logistics, real estate, petroleum, and power generation. Founded by Jimmy and Belen Lim during the economic challenges of the 1970s, BJM rapidly expanded into importing and selling construction and industrial machinery. In the 1980s and 1990s, the company ventured into real estate with BJ Land and Meiling Development Corporation, developing commercial and residential properties. Amid the 1998 financial crisis, BJM launched an auction platform in Malinta, solidifying its presence in the industry.

Over the years, BJM has expanded its portfolio, establishing Microvan Inc. in 2000 and entering the petroleum sector with Micro Dragon Petroleum Inc. in 2008. It also ventured into ocean transport with Royal Dragon Ocean Transport, operating 10 vessels serving mining and construction industries. The company celebrated another milestone with the 10th anniversary of its exclusive partnership with Scania in the Philippines, a leading global manufacturer of heavy transport vehicles. BJM further diversified into cold storage with San Simon Cold Storage in Pampanga and power generation by partnering with AJ Power after Scania discontinued its genset line in 2019.

Looking ahead, BJM continues to broaden its reach in the automotive sector, securing exclusive deals with Ashok-Leyland in 2023 and forming partnerships with Fuso and Hongqi Philippines. The company will begin marketing Hongqi passenger cars in 2025, positioning itself for continued growth in the years to come. “We are grateful to our employees, partners, and customers for their trust and support over the past five decades,” said Leilani Lim Tan, Vice President of BJ Mercantile Inc., adding that BJM looks forward to further expanding its inventory and entering new high-growth industries.