What Dettmer Group does

Dettmer Group is a privately held, family-owned German logistics and maritime conglomerate headquartered in Bremen, founded in 1947 by Bernhard Dettmer. The group operates through approximately 40 affiliated companies consolidated under Dettmer Asset Holding GmbH, with four core business segments: Liquid Cargo Solutions (inland waterway transport via B. Dettmer Reederei's double-hull tanker fleet, Dettmer Rail, MUT tank storage in Magdeburg, and the 22.2 km Mainline pipeline supplying jet fuel to Frankfurt Airport); General Cargo Solutions (LS Cargo project logistics, DCP container packing in Hamburg/Antwerp/Duisburg, DETRA ship clearing, and CPC cargo center in Bremen); Air Cargo Solutions (LUG aircargo handling at Frankfurt, Munich, and Hamburg airports, plus PCF Perishable Center Frankfurt — Europe's largest perishable center with 33,000 m² of covered warehouse); and Waste & Recycling Solutions (Die Grünen Engel in Nuremberg, remineral in Duisburg, Jongen in Hamburg port for oil spill response, and PURUS PLASTICS in Arzberg).

The company's revenue model is built on B2B service contracts across all four segments, with quote-based pricing tailored to cargo type, volume, and service scope. The group employs over 1,400 people and reports annual revenue exceeding €500 million. The business model is asset-heavy and capital-intensive, anchored by physical infrastructure including inland vessels, a multi-modal tank storage facility, a dedicated jet fuel pipeline, and specialized airport cargo handling facilities.

The group is led by shareholders Heiner Dettmer and Julia Dettmer (founding family), with Andreas Niemeyer as COO and Peter Ganz as CFO. The company maintains an active presence in German transport policy forums including the Deutsches Verkehrsforum (DVF) and recently formed a joint venture with Nehlsen AG to build the 43,000 m² Rohstoffwerk Weser secondary raw materials center in Bremen port, signaling continued strategic expansion in the circular economy segment.

Name

Dettmer Group

Legal name

Dettmer Group GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://dettmer-group.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dettmer Group is a family-owned German logistics conglomerate founded in 1947, operating four segments — liquid cargo, general cargo, air cargo, and waste recycling — through 40+ affiliated companies serving industrial and infrastructure customers across Germany and Europe with over €500M in annual revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Logistics Services

NAICS

Inland Water Freight Transportation (483211), Warehousing and Storage (4931), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Support Activities for Transportation (488)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Public Warehousing & Storage (4220), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Air Courier Services (4513), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Air Cargo Cross-Dock / Breakbulk Facilities (TLALAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hazmat & Dangerous Goods Warehousing (Regulated Storage) (TLAIACAE), Project & OOG/Breakbulk Ocean Forwarding (Out-of-Gauge, RoRo) (TLACABAH), Perishables & Fresh Produce Forwarding (Food/Seafood/Floral) (TLACAJAA), Hazmat Emergency Response, Spill Control & Incident Management (TLACANAM)

Keywords

• Inland waterway logistics
• Air cargo handling
• Waste recycling services
• Tank storage logistics
• Container packing logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Bremen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Liquid Cargo Solutions: Revenue from transport of dry and liquid goods on European waterways via inland vessels, rail transport, tank storage and transshipment services, and pipeline operations for aviation fuel supply.
2. General Cargo Solutions: Revenue from project logistics, consolidation services, container depot operations, customs clearance (Klärierung), stuffing and unstuffing, storage, and full ship load organization.
3. Air Cargo Solutions: Revenue from air cargo handling services at Frankfurt, Munich, and Hamburg airports, including perishable goods handling, pharmaceutical storage, and complete air freight handling for import and export.
4. Waste & Recycling Solutions: Revenue from waste collection, processing, and recycling operations across Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Berlin, Brandenburg, and Hamburg port. Includes disposal services, oil spill response, and ship cleaning.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Dettmer Group is a family-owned logistics and maritime holding company operating four business segments through approximately 40+ affiliated subsidiaries. It provides inland waterway transport of dry and liquid cargo via its own double-hull tanker fleet, rail transport of liquid goods, tank storage and transshipment, a 22.2 km jet fuel pipeline to Frankfurt Airport, project logistics and container packing, customs clearance, air cargo handling at Frankfurt/Munich/Hamburg airports with pharmaceutical and perishable storage, and waste recycling/secondary raw material recovery. Services are tailored to industrial and commercial B2B customers across Germany and European waterways.

Product overview

Dettmer Group is a diversified logistics and maritime conglomerate organized under Dettmer Asset Holding with four core business segments: Liquid Cargo Solutions (inland waterway transport, rail, tank storage, and pipeline operations), General Cargo Solutions (project logistics, container services, shipping clearing, and storage), Air Cargo Solutions (air cargo handling and perishable goods logistics), and Waste & Recycling Solutions (waste processing, recycling, and raw material recovery). The portfolio comprises approximately 40 affiliated companies including B. Dettmer Reederei (inland shipping), Dettmer Rail (rail transport), MUT Tanklager (tank storage), Mainline (pipeline), LS Cargo (project logistics), DCP (container packing), CPC (cargo center), DETRA (ship clearing), LUG aircargo (air cargo handling), PCF Perishable Center (perishables), Die Grünen Engel/Durmin, remineral, Jongen (oil spill response), MDU (transport), and PURUS PLASTICS (plastics engineering). The group employs over 1,400 people across Germany with approximately €500+ million in revenue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• B. Dettmer Reederei — Inland Waterway Transport Inland waterway transport of dry and liquid cargo on European waterways, operated with a modern fleet of double-hull tankers. Serves industrial and commercial B2B customers needing safe liquid-cargo transport across rivers and inland seas.
• Dettmer Rail — Rail Transport of Liquid Goods Rail transport of liquid goods on the European rail network, offering continuous or broken (transshipment-based) transport solutions. Serves industrial B2B customers needing alternative transport modes for liquid cargo.
• MUT — Tank Storage and Transshipment (Magdeburg) Tank storage facility for loading, unloading, and direct transshipment of mineral oil products and chemical products at Magdeburg. Provides multi-modal logistics capability via ship, rail, and truck. Serves chemical, fuel, and industrial B2B customers.
• Mainline — Aviation Fuel Pipeline Operations Operates a 22.2 km pipeline connecting the Gustavsburg tank farm with the Hydranten Betriebsgesellschaft (HBG) at Frankfurt Airport for jet fuel supply. Serves Frankfurt Airport and aviation fuel customers.
• LS Cargo — Project Logistics Project logistics specialist organizing globally tailored, door-to-door transports of industrial plants and oversized cargo. Serves industrial plant engineering firms and large-project shippers.
• DCP — Container Packing, Depot, and Storage Consolidation logistics, container depot, transshipment, and storage services. Operates facilities in Hamburg, Antwerp (since 2005), and Duisburg (since 2008). Serves shipping and freight B2B customers.
• DETRA — Customs Clearance and Freight Booking Customs clearance (Klarierung) for ocean-going vessels around all Weser and Elbe ports, plus freight booking for bulk cargo, dry cargo, and project shipments. Serves shipping lines and freight forwarders.
• CPC Cargo Center — Storage and Import/Export Handling Storage, import, and export handling with 4 halls and 21,000 m² of hall space in Bremen. Serves import/export shippers needing warehousing and handling.
• LUG aircargo handling — Airport Cargo Handling Air cargo handling services at Frankfurt, Munich, and Hamburg airports. Includes perishable goods handling, pharmaceutical storage, and complete air freight handling for import and export. Serves airlines, freight forwarders, and pharmaceutical shippers.
• PCF Perishable Center Frankfurt — Perishable and Pharmaceutical Storage Europe's largest perishable center for storage and transshipment of perishable goods and pharmaceutical products, including complete air cargo handling for import and export. Serves pharmaceutical and perishable goods distributors.
• Die Grünen Engel — Waste Recycling and Secondary Raw Materials Recycling and disposal company operating processing centers for construction, commercial, and industrial waste, converting materials into valuable secondary raw materials. More than 350 employees at the Nuremberg port processing center. Serves construction, commercial, and industrial waste generators.
• Durmin — Waste Disposal and Logistics Disposal and logistics company processing construction, commercial, and industrial waste (now part of Die Grünen Engel).
• remineral — Raw Material Recovery and Disposal Raw material recovery and disposal company processing mineral waste into secondary raw materials. Acquired by Dettmer Group in 2019 and located in Duisburg.
• Jongen — Port Waste Disposal, Ship Cleaning, and Oil Spill Response Waste disposal and ship cleaning services in Hamburg port, plus oil spill response. Serves maritime and port customers in the Hamburg port ecosystem.
• MDU — Bulk Goods Transport Logistics company providing fast, needs-based transport of loose bulk goods, operating from Nuremberg. Serves bulk goods shippers in the Nuremberg area.
• PURUS PLASTICS — Plastics Engineering/Recycling Plastics engineering and recycling company operating in Arzberg, Bavaria; products and processes for sponge city and rainwater management applications. Serves industrial customers needing plastics recycling and rainwater management solutions.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Nehlsen AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2025Joint venture to establish Rohstoffwerk Weser (RWW) secondary raw materials center at Kap-Horn-Straße 30 in the Bremen port. The 43,000 m² facility will focus on waste recycling and secondary raw material production, combining the expertise of two established Bremen companies with long traditions.
• LUG aircargo handling GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationAir cargo handling services at Frankfurt, Munich, and Hamburg airports. Founded July 26, 1966, LUG provides cargo handling services for all requirements in air cargo handling.
• PCF Perishable Center FrankfurtcoreTechnology or IntegrationEurope's largest perishable center for storage and handling of perishable goods and pharmaceutical products, with complete air freight handling for import and export.
• LS CargocoreTechnology or IntegrationProject logistics specialist organizing worldwide door-to-door transports of oversized cargo for industrial plant installations.
• DCP Dettmer Container Packing GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationConsolidation logistics, container depot, stuffing/unstuffing and storage services. Founded November 8, 1984, with branches in Antwerp (since 2005) and Duisburg (since 2008).
• DETRA Klarierungs- und Befrachtungsgesellschaft mbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationCustoms clearance (Klärierung) for ocean vessels around all Weser and Elbe ports, as well as freight booking for bulk goods, dry cargo, and project cargo.
• CPC Cargo Center GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationFounded 1999, CPC offers storage, import and export handling with 4 halls and 21,000 m² of hall space. Located at Ludwig-Erhard-Str. 3, Bremen.
• B. Dettmer ReedereicoreTechnology or IntegrationTransport of dry and liquid cargo on European waterways. Founded 1947 as Nordwestdeutscher Frachtverkehr B. Dettmer & Co. Fleet includes modern double-hull tankers.
• MUT Tanklager Magdeburg GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationStorage and transshipment of mineral oil products and chemical products at Magdeburg tank farm, with capability to use ships, rail, and trucks for logistics processes. First storage in 1994.
• Dettmer Rail GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationRail transport of liquid products. Competence in continuous or broken transport of liquid goods on the European rail network. Founded 2013.
• Mainline Mineralölfernleitung GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationOperates 22.2 km pipeline between Gustavsburg tank farm and HBG (Hydranten Betriebsgesellschaft) at Frankfurt Airport for kerosene supply. Pipeline construction started March 2008.
• Die Grünen Engel GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationWaste recycling company at Nuremberg port for energy-efficient production of secondary raw materials from construction, commercial, and industrial waste. More than 350 employees. Founded April 19, 1993.
• Durmin Entsorgung und Logistik GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationDisposal and logistics company (now integrated with Die Grünen Engel brand).
• remineral Rohstoffverwertung & Entsorgung GmbH & Co. KGcoreTechnology or IntegrationRaw material recovery and recycling company. Acquired by Dettmer Group in 2019. Located in Duisburg.
• MDU Main-Donau-Umschlags- und Transport GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationReliable partner for fast and needs-based transport of loose bulk goods. Based in Nuremberg.
• PURUS PLASTICS GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationPlastics recycling company. Located in Arzberg, Bavaria.
• Jongen GmbH & Co. KGcoreTechnology or IntegrationWaste disposal and ship cleaning services in Hamburg port, as well as oil spill response. Founded 2016.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Imperial Logistics (DP World): Imperial Logistics is a South Africa-headquartered contract logistics provider, now owned by DP World, offering freight forwarding, warehousing, and integrated supply chain solutions across EMEA. Comparable to Dettmer's general cargo and project logistics segments but with broader African and Middle East exposure.
• Deutsche Post DHL: Deutsche Post DHL operates DHL Express, DHL Global Forwarding, DHL Supply Chain, and DHL eCommerce with global reach and integrated contract logistics. Overlaps with Dettmer's air cargo (LUG), contract logistics, and freight forwarding segments but at vastly larger scale and with broader geographic footprint.
• Lufthansa Cargo: Lufthansa Cargo is one of the world's leading air cargo carriers operating a fleet of freighters and using belly-hold capacity on Lufthansa passenger flights at Frankfurt and Munich. Comparable to LUG aircargo handling at the same Frankfurt and Munich hubs but as a carrier rather than a handler.
• Kühne + Nagel International: Kühne + Nagel is the world's largest ocean and air freight forwarder with global scale, asset-light model, and integrated digital logistics platform. Comparable to Dettmer's general cargo and air cargo solutions (LUG, LS Cargo) but operates at significantly larger scale and with different capital intensity.

Direct peers

• Nehlsen AG: Nehlsen AG is a Bremen-based family-owned waste management and recycling company and Dettmer's joint venture partner in Rohstoffwerk Weser (announced June 2025). Direct comparable in German regional recycling and a current strategic partner, making it a natural peer for benchmarking the recycling segment.
• Rhenus Logistics: Rhenus is a family-owned German multimodal logistics group (Rethmann Group) offering inland waterway transport, rail freight, warehousing, air/ocean forwarding, and contract logistics across Europe. Directly comparable to Dettmer in multi-modality, German Mittelstand ownership, and segment breadth across liquid/general cargo and contract logistics.
• Remondis: Remondis is one of Germany's largest privately-held waste management and recycling companies, operating water, raw material recovery, and disposal services across Europe. Directly comparable to Dettmer's Waste & Recycling segment (Die Grünen Engel, remineral, Jongen, PURUS PLASTICS) and a JV counterpart candidate for further consolidation.
• HHLA (Hamburger Hafen und Logistik): HHLA is a Hamburg-based port and intermodal logistics group operating container terminals, hinterland rail connections, and warehousing in Hamburg and Northern Germany. Direct comparable to Dettmer Reederei's inland waterway operations, DCP's container depot services, and CPC's Hamburg-area cargo handling.
• EUROGATE: EUROGATE operates container terminals in Bremerhaven, Hamburg, and other German/European ports and offers intermodal container handling. Comparable to Dettmer's DCP Container Packing, CPC Cargo Center, and DETRA's ship clearing services across German ports.
• HGK (Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln): HGK operates Cologne's inland port and provides inland waterway freight, trimodal logistics (ship/rail/truck), tank storage, and hazardous goods handling across the Rhine region. Directly comparable to B. Dettmer Reederei's tanker operations and MUT's tank storage business on German waterways.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dettmergroup

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Dettmer Group