Somatra

What Somatra does

Somatra is a Swiss freight forwarding and logistics company founded in 1959 and headquartered at Route des Jeunes in Geneva, with a secondary branch (Somatra AG) at Zurich Airport. The company delivers multi-modal international transport across road, sea, and air freight, complemented by in-house customs clearance operated from its own freight forwarding office at the Bardonnex border crossing, secure storage facilities in central Geneva, and specialized offerings in horse transport (with 2-working-day ATA Carnet processing) and event logistics under the "Somatra Events Global" sub-brand. Its client base spans Swiss enterprises needing international freight, event organizers and exhibition companies requiring end-to-end logistics coordination, and equestrian professionals and individual horse owners needing specialized animal transport. The company is also a member of SPEDLOGSWISS, the exclusive Swiss representative of L.I.N.K. Global since 1994, and holds IATA and FIATA memberships.

The business operates on a transaction-fee revenue model, charging for transport, customs clearance, storage, ATA Carnet processing, and related logistics services. Pricing is quote-based with no published rate cards or tiered plans; customers engage directly via phone, email, or website contact forms. The go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, supplemented by a trilingual website (French, English, German), organic social media on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, and participation in industry events. Somatra runs no proprietary technology platform — the technology field explicitly notes reliance on standard freight forwarding systems and customs office infrastructure — and there is no evidence of AI/ML capabilities. Distribution is anchored by physical offices in Geneva and Zurich, OFAC agent and IATA authorization at both airports, and the L.I.N.K. Global network for international reach.

Somatra is a family-managed private company (Société Anonyme) with Eveline Brechtbühl as CEO and Patrick Brechtbühl appointed as Fondé de pouvoir (authorized signatory) in 2019 to prepare for leadership succession. The company has remained independent since founding, with no disclosed parent, external investment, or institutional shareholders. Strategic emphasis over the last several years has been on service diversification — adding horse transport in 2020, the Ovo-Logistics bicycle delivery partnership in 2023, and new secure storage facilities in Geneva in 2024 — alongside a 2018 visual identity refresh, rather than geographic or headcount-driven scale expansion.

Name

Somatra

Legal name

SOMATRA SA

Website

https://somatra.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Somatra is a Swiss freight forwarding and logistics company founded in 1959, headquartered in Geneva with a Zurich office. It provides multi-modal road, sea, and air transport, customs clearance, secure storage, horse transport, and event logistics to Swiss enterprises, event organizers, and equestrian professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freight Forwarding and Logistics Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Customs & Regulatory Filing Documentation (Entry/Exit Summaries, Declarations, ENS/AMS/ACI) (TLACAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cross-Border Intermodal (Customs-in-Transit/Transit Regimes) Forwarding (TLACAEAJ)

Keywords

• International freight forwarding
• Multimodal transport services
• Customs brokerage
• Horse transport logistics
• Event logistics solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Freight Forwarding and Transport Services: SOMATRA generates revenue through comprehensive freight forwarding and transport services across road (land), sea, and air modes. The company also provides customs brokerage, secure storage, and event logistics services as part of its full-service offering. Revenue is derived from fees for transport, customs clearance, storage, ATA Carnet processing, and related logistics services.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Somatra is a Geneva-based freight forwarding and logistics company that moves goods across road, sea, and air for businesses, with on-site customs clearance at the Swiss border (Bardonnex) and authorized-agent status at Geneva and Zurich airports. Beyond core freight forwarding, it offers specialized services including horse transport with ATA Carnet documentation, event logistics through its Somatra Events Global division, and secure storage facilities in central Geneva.

Product overview

Somatra is a Swiss logistics and transport company founded in 1959, offering a comprehensive suite of freight forwarding and logistics services. The core product portfolio includes three transport modes: Road Freight, Sea Freight, and Air Freight. These are complemented by specialty services including Horse Transportation (with ATA Carnet support), Somatra Events Global for event logistics, Customs Clearance services from their Bardonnex office, and Secure Storage facilities in Geneva. The company also offers eco-friendly bike delivery through a partnership with Ovo-Logistics. Services are provided through a network of offices in Geneva and Zurich, supported by international affiliations including L.I.N.K. Global and industry associations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Somatra Events Global: Specialized event logistics service offering complete solutions for trade shows, exhibitions, and events including assembly and dismantling of equipment.
• ATA Carnet for Horses

Products and services

• Road Freight (Fret Routier / Landfracht) Overland transport services by road or rail, offering comprehensive door-to-door delivery solutions across Europe and internationally, with customs clearance support, for businesses moving goods across borders.
• Sea Freight (Fret Maritime / Seefracht) Maritime freight services for transporting large quantities via containers, facilitating import/export operations worldwide at competitive rates for businesses with containerized cargo needs.
• Air Freight (Fret Aérien / Luftfracht) Air cargo transport with customs facilities at Geneva and Zurich airports, offering rapid delivery for time-sensitive shipments via Somatra's authorized-agent status with OFAC and IATA.
• Customs Clearance (Formalités en Douane / Zollformalitäten) Customs freight forwarding office at the Swiss border (Bardonnex, Geneva) providing faster clearance, lower freight rates, and qualified support for import/export procedures for businesses moving goods internationally.
• Horse Transportation (Transport de Chevaux / Pferdetransport) Specialized horse transport service using light vehicles and trucks (including a Roelofsen RR3 for up to 7 horses), available throughout Switzerland and internationally, including driver-hire options for individual horse owners, riding schools, competition riders, and equestrian businesses.
• Somatra Events Global Complete event logistics solutions including customs formalities, adapted transport, equipment assembly/disassembly, and real-time follow-up with photos and videos, designed for trade show, exhibition, and corporate event organizers.
• ATA Carnet for Horses Administrative support for ATA Carnet preparation for horse transport, valid for one year, with delivery within 2 working days to Geneva and Vaud residents, intended for equestrian professionals and horse owners crossing borders.
• Secure Storage (Stockage Sécurisé / Sichere Lagerung) Secure storage spaces located in central Geneva with 24/7 surveillance, cameras, alarms, and controlled access, for businesses and individuals needing to store goods, equipment, and personal belongings.
• Eco-Friendly Bike Delivery Last-mile delivery via bicycle across the Geneva agglomeration, delivered through partnership with Ovo-Logistics, reducing carbon footprint for SMB and individual customers needing eco-friendly urban deliveries.

Quantifiable outcome

• ATA Carnet delivery within 2 working days
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ovo-LogisticsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023In 2023, SOMATRA partnered with Ovo-Logistics to offer eco-friendly bicycle deliveries across the Geneva agglomeration, enabling SOMATRA to reduce its carbon footprint while serving last-mile delivery needs.
• L.I.N.K. Global (Logistics International Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994SOMATRA has been the exclusive Swiss representative of L.I.N.K. Global since 1994. The partnership enables SOMATRA to offer global logistics services through an international network of independent freight forwarders. As of 2023, the relationship spans 29 years, with SOMATRA participating in global network events such as the L.I.N.K. Global 25th anniversary celebration in Cancun (2018).
• SPEDLOGSWISS (Swiss Association of Freight Forwarders and Logistics Companies)minorOthersSOMATRA is a member of SPEDLOGSWISS, the Swiss association of freight forwarders and logistics companies. Membership provides industry representation and networking within the Swiss logistics sector. SOMATRA also holds membership in the SPEDLOGSWISS Romandie section.
• Le Respect, ça change la vieminorOthersSOMATRA supports the association 'Le Respect, ça change la vie' (Respect can change your life), demonstrating corporate social responsibility and community engagement.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Somatra-SA-1137751933048847
• LinkedInfr.linkedin.com/company/somatra-sa
• Instagraminstagram.com/somatra.sa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Somatra