What MIES International does

MIES International Limited is an employee-owned UK freight forwarding and logistics services provider headquartered in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire. Founded in 1977, the company operates from a 35,000 sq ft customs-bonded International Logistics Terminal opened in November 2016 and a secondary export packing facility in Castle Donington. The firm holds AEO certification (UKAEOC00096/09) from HMRC, ISO 9001 (UKAS-accredited) quality certification, IATA membership maintained for over 35 years, and BIFA membership (No. 953). Headcount is in the 101-250 band, and the entity is registered in England (Company No. 1261687) with no parent, external investor, or public listing disclosed.

The company's product portfolio covers airfreight, sea freight (LCL, FCL, Ro-Ro, project cargo), European and international road freight, customs brokerage and clearance, customs-bonded warehousing and order fulfilment, export packing (including UN/IMO-compliant hazardous materials), and specialist project cargo handling (heavy lift, over-dimensional, multimodal). Underlying technology comprises EDI integration, direct HMRC CDS (Customs Declaration Service) connectivity replacing the legacy CHIEF system, an online BoxTrax customer portal for shipment visibility and self-service order processing, and AI-based tracking that fuses AIS, satellite, and port query data for real-time congestion monitoring. In-house capabilities include DGSA-qualified dangerous goods advisory and CAD-based export packing design.

Revenue is generated primarily through transaction-fee freight forwarding (LCL, FCL, air, road, project cargo), customs clearance and consultancy fees, bonded warehousing storage and handling charges, and professional services revenue from training programmes, freight finance (letters of credit, Intrastat), DGSA consultancy, and customs auditing. Distribution is direct B2B sales-led, supplemented by a global service partner network for worldwide coverage; no third-party reseller channels are disclosed. The customer base spans multinational corporations and local startup importers across manufacturing, retail, power generation, and heavy industry verticals, served under BIFA Standard Trading Conditions with no public pricing disclosure.

Name

MIES International

Legal name

MIES International Limited

Website

https://miesinternational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MIES International is an employee-owned UK freight forwarder offering integrated air, sea, and road freight forwarding, customs brokerage, bonded warehousing, and export packing to multinational corporations and startup importers. Founded in 1977, it operates from an AEO-certified 35,000 sq ft terminal in Ashby de la Zouch.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ashby De La Zouch

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Freight Forwarding Services: Core revenue stream encompassing airfreight, sea freight, and road freight forwarding services. The company handles thousands of shipments annually, negotiating directly with airlines and shipping lines to provide cost-effective routing solutions. Services include LCL (Less than Container Load), FCL (Full Container Load), Ro-Ro, and project cargo options.
2. Customs Brokerage Services: Customs clearance and brokerage services including assistance with binding tariff information, tariff classification, bonded warehousing, duty rates, and special customs procedures (IPR, OPR, End Use Relief). Revenue generated through customs clearance fees and consultancy charges.
3. Warehousing and Distribution: Customs-bonded warehouse facilities in the Midlands offering safe, secure handling and storage of cargo. Services include order fulfilment, inventory control, order processing, pick and pack, and dispatch. Revenue generated through storage fees and handling charges.
4. Export Packing Services: Export packing services from two facilities in the East and West Midlands. Services include bespoke product design, CAD service, hazardous materials packaging (UN and IMO compliance), heavy lift, containerisation, and specialist lashing and securing to IMO and CSS standards.
5. Training, Mentoring and Support: Freight, international trade and compliance training courses covering import and export basics through to advanced customs procedures. Also includes dangerous goods consultancy services through qualified DGSA, freight finance support (letters of credit, Intrastat processing), and customs auditing services.
6. Project Cargo Services: Specialized handling of heavy lift, out of gauge, and abnormal loads. Services include route surveys, specialist equipment (SPMT trucks, low bed trailers, flat racks), and door-to-door multimodal shipping solutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MIES International is a UK-based freight forwarder and single-source logistics provider delivering airfreight, sea freight, road freight, customs brokerage, customs-bonded warehousing, export packing and project cargo services to business customers. Services are supported by an online customer portal (BoxTrax), direct electronic links to HMRC for customs declarations, AI-based shipment tracking, and ancillary offerings including training, freight finance, DGSA consultancy and customs auditing.

Product overview

MIES International is a freight forwarding and logistics services company offering a portfolio of integrated supply chain solutions. The core offering comprises airfreight, sea freight, road freight, and project cargo services, complemented by customs brokerage, warehousing and fulfilment, and export packing services. The company also provides ancillary services including training and mentoring, freight management, freight finance, dangerous goods safety advisory, and customs auditing. These services are delivered through the company's AEO-certified customs facilities and operate under BIFA Standard Trading Conditions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Airfreight Services International air cargo forwarding for B2B customers, ranging from one-kilogram consolidations to full aircraft charter loads, with dangerous goods handling (IATA DGR/DGSN) and AI-based real-time tracking across multiple platforms.
• Sea Freight Services Ocean freight forwarding covering Less than Container Load (LCL), Full Container Load (FCL), Ro-Ro and project cargo for out-of-gauge, heavy-weight and specialised cargo, delivered through partnerships with major shipping lines.
• Road Freight Services European and international road transport including groupage, full loads, specialised transport, temperature-controlled vehicles, and real-time tracking for B2B customers.
• Warehousing and Fulfilment Services Customs-bonded warehousing with order fulfilment, inventory control, pick and pack, labelling and dispatch for B2B customers, with duty deferment benefits, electronic security monitoring and the BoxTrax customer portal for self-service.
• Export Packing Services Bespoke export packing from facilities in the East and West Midlands, including CAD-based packaging design, heavy lift handling, hazardous materials packaging to UN and IMO compliance, containerisation and IMO/CSS-standard lashing and securing.
• Customs Clearance and Brokerage Services AEO-certified customs brokerage and intermediary services for B2B importers and exporters, including electronic clearance via HMRC Customs Declaration Service (CDS), tariff classification, bonded warehousing, duty management, and special procedures (IPR, OPR, End Use Relief).
• Project Cargo and Specialist Shipping Specialist logistics for heavy lift, over-sized, over-width, over-height and over-weight cargo, including route surveys, specialist equipment (SPMT trucks, low bed trailers, flat racks), vessel charters and door-to-door multimodal shipping via a vetted global service partner network.
• Training, Mentoring and Support Services Professional training programmes and consultancy covering customs compliance, freight management, letters of credit processing, Intrastat declarations and dangerous goods (DGSA) for businesses seeking to build internal trade expertise.
• Freight Management Services Comprehensive international freight management including strategic planning, supplier integration, price control and implementation of logistics systems, with mini-contracts offered for specific freight forwarding challenges.
• Freight Finance Services Financial services including letters of credit handling from negotiation to payment, Intrastat and ESL processing for HMRC declarations, and management of duty deferment accounts.
• Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA) Services DGSA-qualified consultancy services for the handling and transport of dangerous goods, including compliance monitoring, health and safety advisory and preparation of annual reports in line with current legislation.
• Auditing and Compliance Services Independent audits covering customs compliance, freight spend, duty and VAT analysis, IPR-OPR audits for HMRC tax relief schemes, shipping cost analysis and customs planning services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Singapore project delivered 2,775 metric tonnes across multiple transport modes in under 2 months from door to door
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Major Shipping LinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIES works closely with major shipping lines to provide reliable and competitive global sea freight solutions. These partnerships enable access to modern deep sea port networks, stable scheduled intercontinental services, and competitive rates for LCL and FCL shipments.
• Major AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs an IATA member for over 35 years, MIES negotiates directly with airlines to find the quickest and most cost-effective airfreight routes. Direct relationships with airlines provide access to rates, services, and master air waybills without relying on agents or freight forwarders.
• Global Service Partners NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of trusted and vetted partners for worldwide coverage in project cargo handling, heavy lift operations, and multimodal transport solutions. Partners vetted to ensure best sea freight services in the industry.
• British International Freight Association (BIFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing BIFA membership (Member No. 953) providing adherence to industry Standard Trading Conditions and commitment to high standards of service and professional excellence.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Wincanton: UK-headquartered contract logistics and transport specialist with warehousing and supply chain solutions. Comparable in UK scale and warehousing focus, though more weighted to domestic transport and contract logistics than international forwarding.

Broad incumbents

• DHL Global Forwarding: World's largest air and ocean freight forwarder with full customs brokerage and warehousing capabilities. Competes with MIES on enterprise freight forwarding tenders and customs services across UK and global trade lanes.
• Yusen Logistics: Japan-headquartered global logistics provider with significant UK and European freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and contract logistics operations. Overlaps with MIES in air/sea forwarding and warehousing for enterprise customers.
• Expeditors International: US-listed global freight forwarder specializing in air and ocean freight with customs brokerage. Competes with MIES on mid-to-large enterprise forwarding mandates with comparable technology investments in shipment visibility.
• Hellmann Worldwide Logistics: German-headquartered global freight forwarder with strong air, sea, and road freight forwarding plus customs and contract logistics. Comparable service portfolio to MIES but with global network and significantly larger scale.
• DB Schenker: Global logistics provider offering air, ocean, road, and rail freight forwarding alongside contract logistics and customs services. Competes with MIES on European freight forwarding and customs brokerage mandates.
• Kuehne+Nagel: Global top-3 freight forwarder offering sea freight, air freight, road freight, customs brokerage, and contract logistics. Overlaps with MIES across every service line but operates at vastly greater scale with global carrier contracts.

Direct peers

• Davies Turner: UK-headquartered multimodal freight forwarder offering air, sea, and road freight forwarding, customs clearance, and warehousing. Most directly comparable to MIES in terms of size, UK base, integrated service portfolio, and BIFA-aligned trading model.
• John F Hillebrand (JF Hillebrand): Mid-sized European-headquartered freight forwarder specializing in ocean freight forwarding and customs services for beverage, consumer goods, and industrial customers. Comparable in scale, integrated services, and reliance on customs expertise.
• Allport Cargo Services: UK-based freight forwarder providing airfreight, seafreight, road freight, customs brokerage, and warehousing with comparable mid-market enterprise focus and BIFA membership profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/category/Cargo---Freight-Company/MIES-International-280898335261114
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mies-international-limited

Compliance4 records

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 MIES International