IQ Martrade Holding & Managementges

What IQ Martrade Holding & Managementges does

IQ Martrade Holding & Managementgesellschaft mbH (Martrade Group) is a privately owned, founder-led integrated logistics service provider headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany, operating across three synergistic divisions: ocean shipping (Martrade Shipping), port terminal operations (Martrade Terminals), and project logistics (Martrade Logistics). Its underlying asset base comprises long-term Build-Operate-Transfer terminal concessions at Khor Al-Zubair Berths #8 and #9 and Umm Qasr Berth #16 in Iraq (in place since 2010-2017), a chartered vessel fleet spanning 5,000 to 80,000 DWT (3,000+ vessels since 1991), and a proprietary Intra-Arabian Gulf shuttle service connecting UAE and Iraqi ports with priority berthing at Martrade terminals. The technology stack is asset- and operational-process oriented — integrated multi-modal logistics, 24/7 terminal operations with ISPS-1 compliance, and proprietary Iraqi customs clearance licenses — rather than software-native.

Martrade serves large enterprise customers across the Oil & Gas, EPC, Mining, Defense & Government, Energy & Water, and Steel & Manufacturing verticals, with named reference customers including RWE (550,000-ton multi-modal contract), international oil companies, EPC contractors, and major steel and pipe manufacturers. Revenue mechanics combine transaction-based chartering/forwarding fees (vessel chartering) with managed-service terminal operations and project logistics contracts, all priced on a quote-based B2B basis — no public rate cards exist. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales augmented by event presence (Breakbulk, IDEX, DIMDEX), the WCA Projects Network channel (joined June 2025), and channel partnerships such as AHK Iraq.

The group operates through approximately 20 wholly-owned subsidiaries and the TMILL joint venture (with Tata Steel and NYK Holding Europe, formed 2002), spanning Germany, UAE, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Ukraine, India, China, Korea, and Peru. Founded in 1974, Martrade has transported over 150 million metric tons of cargo cumulatively. The company remains under founder/family control with Managing Directors Günther Hahn and Sergej Pelih, and is not publicly listed.

Name

IQ Martrade Holding & Managementges

Legal name

IQ Martrade Holding und Managementgesellschaft mbH

Website

https://martrade-group.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Martrade Group is a privately owned, founder-led integrated logistics provider headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany, combining ocean shipping, Iraqi port terminal concessions, and project logistics to serve large enterprise clients in Oil & Gas, EPC, Mining, and Defense across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Düsseldorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ocean Freight & Chartering: Revenue generated from chartering and operating bulk, breakbulk, and project cargo vessels across global trade routes, with a fleet of 3,000+ chartered vessels since 1991. Primary trade lanes connect Middle East, Europe, and Asia.
2. Terminal Operations & Port Management: Revenue from managing and operating port terminals under BOT agreements in Iraq (Khor Al-Zubair Berths #8 & #9, Umm Qasr Berth #16), handling bulk, breakbulk, project cargo, and liquid bulk oil products.
3. Project & Contract Logistics: End-to-end logistics services including customs clearance, warehousing, consolidation, and inland transport, particularly serving Oil & Gas, Energy, and EPC clients in Iraq and the wider Middle East region.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Martrade Group is a privately owned integrated logistics service provider offering services worldwide across three divisions: Ocean Shipping (chartering bulk, breakbulk, and project cargo vessels), Port Terminal Operations (managing concessions at Khor Al-Zubair and Umm Qasr in Iraq under BOT arrangements with Iraq Port Authorities), and Project Logistics (end-to-end international logistics including customs clearance, technical supervision, consolidation, warehousing, and inland transport). The group operates a fleet of 3,000+ chartered vessels and a network of 20+ regional offices, serving enterprise clients in Oil & Gas, EPC, Mining, Defense, Energy, and commodity trading.

Product overview

IQ Martrade Holding & Managementges operates as an integrated logistics service provider with three core divisions: Shipping (Martrade Shipping), Terminals (Martrade Terminals), and Logistics (Martrade Logistics). These divisions work synergistically to deliver comprehensive solutions across the transportation chain, from ocean shipping to port operations to door-to-door logistics. The company also offers an Intra Arabian Gulf Shuttle Service as a differentiated offering that connects major ports in the UAE and Iraq with priority berthing at company-owned terminals. Established in 1973, the group has transported over 150 million metric tons of cargo across industries including oil & gas, energy, mining, EPC, and defense.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Martrade Shipping Integrated ocean transport services offering bulk, breakbulk, and project cargo shipping for enterprise clients, with main offices in Düsseldorf, Dubai, Chennai, and Odessa, and access to a fleet of chartered vessels from 5,000 to 80,000 DWT.
• Martrade Terminals Port terminal management and operations serving Iraq's strategic ports, managing Khor Al-Zubair Berth #8 and #9 and Umm Qasr Berth #16, with 24/7 operations, stevedoring, cargo surveys, heavy-lift handling, IMDG cargo storage, and ISPS 1-compliant security services.
• Martrade Logistics End-to-end international logistics services including customs clearance under proprietary Iraqi licenses, technical supervision, consolidation, warehousing, and inland transportation, leveraging proprietary assets and strategic partnerships across the supply chain.
• Intra-Arabian Gulf Shuttle Service Multi-purpose vessel shuttle service connecting major UAE ports (Jebel Ali, Sharjah Hamriyah, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Kaimah) with Iraqi ports (Umm Qasr, Khor Al-Zubair), offering priority berthing at Martrade terminals and door-to-door service for breakbulk and containers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Transported over 150 million metric tons of cargo over 30+ years through 3,000+ chartered vessels
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• WCA Projects NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 June 2025Martrade Group officially joined the WCA Projects Network in June 2025. The membership enhances Martrade's ability to coordinate with leading project freight forwarders worldwide, enabling seamless end-to-end solutions for heavy-lift, breakbulk, and specialized cargo movements. WCA Projects provides access to over 10,000 logistics and project partners across 190 countries.
• Drewes GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2024Martrade Group and Drewes Group secured a landmark multi-modal logistics contract with RWE involving 550,000 freight tons, 46 full-charter vessels, and 228 block-train movements. The partnership covers multi-continental scope with coal, steel, or pipe cargoes and complex routing, integrating sea-freight chartering, inland rail logistics, vessel-side operations, and survey supervision. The contract positions Martrade alongside global logistics integrators for high-volume energy and industrial throughput projects.
• AHK Iraq (German-Iraq Chamber of Industry and Commerce)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 July 2023Martrade Group partnered with AHK Iraq (German Liaison Office for Industry and Commerce in Iraq) in July 2023 to strengthen bilateral trade and logistics collaboration between Europe and Iraq. Martrade leverages its extensive logistics expertise, local presence, and international network to facilitate efficient trade and transport solutions for German and Iraqi enterprises, supporting Iraq's reconstruction with port handling, customs clearance, warehousing, and inland transportation services.
• Iraq Port AuthoritiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Since 2010, Martrade Group has maintained long-term joint operation agreements (BOT arrangements) with Iraq Port Authorities, covering operations at Khor Al-Zubair Berths #8 and #9 (from 2011 and 2016 respectively) and Umm Qasr Berth #16 (from 2017). These partnerships have fostered stability and operational consistency for sustained growth.
• Tata Steel Ltd / NYK Holding (Europe) — TMILL JVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTMILL (The International Logistics Provider) is a joint venture company between Tata Steel Ltd, IQ Martrade Holding GmbH, and NYK Holding (Europe), established in 2002. TMILL offers a comprehensive presence throughout the supply chain and provides customers with complete supply chain management solutions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves27 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• AD Ports Group: UAE-based regional port and logistics operator with adjacent Caspian, Arabian Gulf, and Indian Ocean infrastructure. Comparable regional reach and competes for Middle East and Iraq-linked cargo volume.
• DP World: UAE-headquartered global port operator that also operates Umm Qasr (where Martrade operates Berth #16). Geographic overlap makes it both a counterpart and competitor for Iraqi port throughput and Middle East trade.

Direct peers

• Deugro Group: Specialized project freight forwarder for heavy-lift, OOG, and industrial project cargo. Direct competitor in the project logistics segment Martrade Projects serves, particularly on EPC and energy-cargo tenders.
• Bertling Group: Hamburg-based project freight forwarder with deep Oil & Gas, EPC, and heavy-lift expertise. Comparable to Martrade Logistics' project-cargo and energy vertical focus, and competes for similar enterprise multi-modal contracts.
• Hansa Heavy Lift: Specialized tonnage provider for project, heavy-lift, and breakbulk cargo. Closely mirrors Martrade Shipping's charter profile on global Middle East/Asia/Europe trade lanes and serves similar EPC and industrial customers.
• BBC Chartering & Logistics: German-headquartered specialized charterer of project cargo vessels (5,000-80,000+ DWT), bulk and breakbulk. Closest comparable to Martrade Shipping in vessel size class, trade lane profile (Middle East/Asia/Europe), and project-cargo chartering model.

Broad incumbents

• Kuehne+Nagel: Global logistics leader with a dedicated Project Logistics division serving Oil & Gas, EPC, and Mining. Substantially larger than Martrade and competes on the same multi-modal project tenders via its KN Project Network.
• DHL Global Forwarding: Global freight forwarding and project logistics arm of DHL, with established Special Transports and Oil & Gas verticals. Competes for large multi-modal tenders but typically serves a wider commodity base than Martrade.
• Rhenus Logistics: German-headquartered broad logistics provider with project logistics, port, and forwarding capabilities. Overlaps with Martrade Logistics and Martrade Terminals but operates across many more product categories and regions.
• Agility Logistics: Kuwait-based logistics platform with strong Middle East and project logistics presence. Competitor across Martrade's target verticals, particularly in Iraq/UAE and Oil & Gas customers, though with broader service mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries21 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 IQ Martrade Holding & Managementges