What Pinto Basto does

Pinto Basto is a privately held, family-owned Portuguese transportation and logistics group founded in 1771 and headquartered in Lisbon, with operational offices in 23 cities across Portugal, Spain, Angola, and Mozambique, plus a P&I correspondent presence in Brazil. The company operates six core service lines under a single brand: (1) integrated freight forwarding across maritime, road, air, and rail modes with warehousing; (2) ship agency and brokerage including 24/7 port assistance, chartering, and vessel sale/purchase intermediation; (3) regular liner agency representing first-class container and ro-ro shipowners; (4) project cargo handling for oversized and heavy-lift shipments; (5) international trade intermediation for procurement of goods and services; and (6) Protection & Indemnity (P&I) correspondent services for all P&I Clubs of the International Group, with claims handling, surveys, legal assistance, conflict mediation, and loss prevention dating back over 150 years.

The underlying technology is an integrated multi-modal logistics and freight forwarding platform connected to a global agent network for worldwide coverage, supported by ISO 9001 quality certification and IATA, BIMCO, FONASBA, and APAT industry accreditations. No proprietary software products, APIs, or AI capabilities are disclosed; the technology stack is operational and relationship-driven rather than software-led. Distribution is delivered through own offices (direct enterprise sales) and a global agent network (channel/reseller).

The business model is transaction- and fee-based across all six service lines: freight forwarding earns transactional margins on door-to-door transport, ship agency and brokerage earn commissions on port calls and charter deals, and P&I services generate professional-services fees from insurance club clients. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated per engagement via dedicated department contacts. Customer segments are horizontal — international trade operators, ship owners and charterers, industrial project cargo clients, and P&I insurance clubs — with no disclosed named anchor customers or revenue concentration data. The company celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2021 under presidential patronage and published its first Sustainability Report the same year.

Name

Pinto Basto

Legal name

Pinto Basto

Website

https://pintobasto.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1771

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Pinto Basto is a 250-year-old Portuguese logistics group headquartered in Lisbon, providing freight forwarding, ship agency, project cargo, and P&I correspondent services to international trade operators, ship owners, and P&I Clubs across offices in Portugal, Spain, Angola, Mozambique, and Brazil.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freight Forwarding and Logistics Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Freight Transportation Arrangement (4885), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812), Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (484230)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412), Air Courier Services (4513), Trucking (No Local) (4213)

akta.pro primary industry

Ocean Freight Brokerage (FCL/LCL) (TLADAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cross-Border Freight Brokerage (USMCA/EU, etc.) (TLADAMAN), General Cargo Air Freight Forwarding (Airport-to-Airport / Door-to-Door) (TLACAAAA), Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance) (TLACABAG)

Keywords

• Freight forwarding services
• Ship agency brokerage
• Project cargo handling
• P&I correspondent services
• International trade logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices24 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Freight Forwarding and Logistics Services: Transitary services providing integrated and door-to-door transport solutions for import, export, and cross-trade cargoes. Operates across maritime, road, air, and rail modes with warehouse and logistics capabilities.
2. Ship Agency and Brokerage Services: Full assistance to ships in any port as agents for ship owners and/or charterers, offering 24/7 service. Includes brokerage for all types of ships and intermediation in vessel purchase and sale.
3. P&I Correspondent Services: Protection and Indemnity insurance correspondent services for all P&I Clubs of the International Group, including claims handling, cargo and vessel surveys, legal assistance, conflict mediation, and loss prevention.
4. International Trade: Specialist procurement services finding optimal conditions for negotiating goods and services required for clients' daily operations, ensuring technical specifications and appropriate cycles.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Pinto Basto operates as a freight forwarder and ship agent, providing door-to-door integrated multi-modal transport (maritime, road, air, rail) including warehousing for import, export, and cross-trade cargo, alongside 24/7 ship agency and brokerage in any port, regular liner representation, specialized project cargo handling for oversized and heavy-lift loads, international trade intermediation, and Protection & Indemnity club correspondent services for the International Group's P&I Clubs. Services are delivered directly through offices in Portugal, Spain, Angola, and Mozambique and through a global network of agents.

Product overview

Pinto Basto is a Portuguese transportation and logistics group offering a comprehensive suite of integrated services. The core portfolio includes Transportes e Logística (freight forwarding via maritime, road, air, and rail with warehousing), Agenciamentos e Corretagem de Navios (ship agency and brokerage), Linhas Regulares (regular shipping lines agency), Carga de Projecto (project cargo and heavy lift), Comércio Internacional (international trade intermediation), and P&I (Protection & Indemnity club representation). These services operate as distinct but interconnected offerings within the broader Pinto Basto Group, serving clients globally through offices in Portugal, Spain, Angola, and Mozambique.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Transportes e Logística (Freight Forwarding and Logistics) Freight forwarding and integrated logistics service providing door-to-door transport solutions for import, export, and cross-trade cargo via maritime, road, air, and rail modes, including warehousing, for enterprise clients engaged in international trade.
• Agenciamentos e Corretagem de Navios (Ship Agency and Brokerage) Ship agency and brokerage service providing 24/7 full assistance to vessels in any port as agent for ship owners and/or charterers, covering dry and liquid cargo ships, ro-ro, yard repairs, dredgers, and supply vessels, plus intermediation in vessel sale and purchase.
• Linhas Regulares (Regular Liner Agency) Agency representation for first-class container and ro-ro shipowners providing local support and differentiated, innovative solutions to increase market presence for liner operators.
• Carga de Projecto (Project Cargo) Specialized project cargo handling for oversized and heavy-lift shipments with specialists accompanying clients from planning and budgeting through to delivery at final destination worldwide.
• Comércio Internacional (International Trade) International trade intermediation between manufacturing and buying enterprises, negotiating optimal conditions for procurement of goods and services while ensuring technical specifications and appropriate delivery cycles.
• P&I (Protection and Indemnity Correspondent Services) Protection and Indemnity club correspondent services for all P&I Clubs of the International Group, providing claims processing, cargo and vessel surveys, legal assistance, conflict mediation, and loss prevention across Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, and Brazil.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• P&I Clubs of the International GroupcoreOthersPinto Basto acts as correspondent for all P&I Clubs of the International Group since the first insurance mutual emerged over 150 years ago. Services include claims handling, cargo and vessel surveys, legal assistance, conflict mediation, and loss prevention. The company maintains correspondent offices in Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, and Brazil.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GAC Group: GAC is a global ship agency, freight forwarding, and logistics provider with deep presence in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Directly comparable to Pinto Basto in combining ship agency, P&I services, and multi-modal freight forwarding for international trade clients.
• Inchcape Shipping Services: Inchcape is a leading global ship agency and maritime services provider offering port agency, marine solutions, and related logistics. Highly comparable to Pinto Basto's ship agency and brokerage business line.
• Transitex: Transitex is a Portuguese-origin freight forwarder with strong Iberian and African operations, particularly in Mozambique. Directly comparable in multi-modal forwarding, Iberian/Lusophone market focus, and mid-sized private operator profile.
• Expeditors International: Expeditors is a pure-play international freight forwarder operating across air, ocean, and ground with no asset-heavy fleet. Comparable in business model as a non-asset-based, multi-modal freight forwarder serving enterprise shippers globally.

Broad incumbents

• CEVA Logistics: CEVA is a global third-party logistics provider offering freight forwarding, contract logistics, and supply chain solutions. Overlaps with Pinto Basto's multi-modal forwarding and contract logistics but operates at significantly larger global scale.
• Kuehne+Nagel: Kuehne+Nagel is one of the world's largest freight forwarders with air, sea, road, and contract logistics operations. A broad incumbent whose multi-modal forwarding portfolio directly overlaps with Pinto Basto's core Transportes e Logística offering.
• DHL Global Forwarding: DHL Global Forwarding is the freight forwarding arm of Deutsche Post DHL, offering air, ocean, road, and customs services worldwide. Competes with Pinto Basto across all major freight forwarding modes but at much larger global scale.
• DSV: DSV is a global transport and logistics company with strong air, sea, road, and project cargo forwarding. Directly comparable in multi-modal forwarding and project cargo, but at significantly larger scale and with an active M&A-driven growth strategy.

Emerging players

• Flexport: Flexport is a digital-native freight forwarder offering technology-enabled air, ocean, and ground forwarding. Represents the emerging digital-forwarder model that could disrupt traditional relationship-led forwarders like Pinto Basto if it invests in technology.

Regional players

• Wilson Sons: Wilson Sons is a Brazilian maritime and logistics services provider with port agency, towage, and ship agency operations. Compares to Pinto Basto's Lusophone-focused maritime services and Latin American exposure, but primarily serves the Brazilian market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pinto-basto

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Pinto Basto