L.I.N.K. Global

What L.I.N.K. Global does

L.I.N.K. Global is an international network of independent freight forwarders, officially founded in 1994 and headquartered in Hong Kong (Room 1503-05, 15/F., Port 33, Tseuk Luk Street, San Po Kong, Kowloon). The network connects over 240 member offices across 63 countries, collectively employing approximately 5,136 people and handling around 750,000 tons of freight annually. Its defining structural feature is the 'one member per country' exclusivity model, under which admission is decided by full-member voting at Annual General Meetings; new members added in December 2024 include representatives from Algeria, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Holland (Netherlands), Oman, and Venezuela. Members are described as mostly family-owned companies managed by first or second generation owners, and the network is governed by a board with representation from India (Chairman, Mr. Sunil Krishnan of Logistic Integrators), Kenya, Qatar, Switzerland, and Spain.

The network delivers a standard freight services stack (airfreight, seafreight, storage, distribution) plus specialized verticals including Project Cargo, Ship Spares, Pharma Logistics, Perishables, E-commerce, and AOG (Aircraft on Ground). The primary underlying technology is a website-based quote request system (CARGO INFO) that captures inbound shipment parameters — transportation module, origin/destination, Incoterms, commodity details, dangerous goods classification — and routes inquiries to the appropriate country member. No proprietary platforms, algorithms, or AI systems are referenced in available sources; the network's coordination is predominantly relationship-driven via AGMs, regional meetings (LINK Latin, LINK Asia), and direct member-to-member referrals.

L.I.N.K. Global operates as a private, member-funded cooperative-style organization with no venture or private equity backing. Revenue mechanics are twofold: recurring membership fees paid by country members (with stated criteria of financial soundness, credibility, and mandatory AGM participation) and transaction-based fees from freight services facilitated through member companies. The go-to-market combines member referrals, public quote requests, content marketing via blog and social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), and event-driven recruitment at industry exhibitions such as Intermodal South America and Intermodal Brazil. End customers span manufacturing and trading firms, pharmaceutical shippers, perishable-goods exporters, and e-commerce businesses requiring cross-border coordination.

Name

L.I.N.K. Global

Legal name

L.I.N.K Global

Website

https://linkglobal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

L.I.N.K. Global is a Hong Kong-headquartered international network of independent freight forwarders, founded in 1994, connecting 240+ member offices across 63 countries under an exclusive one-member-per-country model. It delivers air, sea, and specialized freight services to manufacturers, pharma, perishables, and e-commerce shippers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Freight Forwarding

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Cross-Border Freight Brokerage (USMCA/EU, etc.) (TLADAMAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ocean Export Forwarding (Booking/VGM/SI/BL) (TLACABAF), Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF) (TLACABAE), High-Value & Secure Air Cargo (Valuables, Security Screening, Escort) (TLACAAAH)

Keywords

• Freight forwarding network
• International logistics services
• Airfreight seafreight
• Project cargo logistics
• Supply chain coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Fremont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Network Membership Fees: Independent freight forwarding companies pay membership fees to join the network. Membership criteria include being a credible and reliable freight forwarder, financially sound with latest annual report, and mandatory participation in annual global meetings.
2. Freight Services Revenue: The network facilitates freight forwarding services (airfreight, seafreight, storage, distribution, specialized logistics) through member companies, generating revenue through service fees and potentially commission arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

L.I.N.K. Global operates an international network of independent freight forwarders with over 240 offices in 63 countries, coordinating cross-border airfreight, seafreight, storage, distribution, and specialized logistics services between its member companies. The network charges membership fees to vetted, family-owned forwarders and routes customer shipment requests to the appropriate member via the CARGO INFO online quote system.

Product overview

L.I.N.K. Global operates as an international network of independent freight forwarders, officially founded in 1994. The network connects over 240 offices across 63 countries, providing a comprehensive suite of freight services including airfreight, seafreight, storage, and distribution. The core offering is the network itself, which enables members to collaborate on shipments while maintaining local expertise. Specialized services include Project Cargo, Ship Spares, Pharma Logistics, Perishables, E-commerce, and AOG (Aircraft on Ground). The company also offers a digital CARGO INFO quote system for online freight rate requests.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Freight Forwarding Network Core membership offering connecting independent freight forwarders across 63 countries with over 240 offices, enabling collaborative international freight coordination.
• Airfreight

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• New Network Members (Algeria, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Holland, Oman, Venezuela)minorOthers · 10 December 2024New member companies from Algeria, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Holland (Netherlands), Oman, and Venezuela joined the L.I.N.K. Global network in December 2024. Each new member was admitted following network membership criteria and voting procedures. These additions expand the network's geographic coverage in respective regions.
• Logistic Integrators (India)coreOthersMr. Sunil Krishnan serves as Chairman of L.I.N.K. Global, representing Logistic Integrators based in India. Logistic Integrators is a core member company within the network, contributing leadership to the organization's governance.
• Mitchel Cotts (Kenya)coreOthersMr. Daniel Tanui serves as Board of Director representing Mitchel Cotts in Kenya. Mitchel Cotts is a longstanding network member contributing to board governance.
• Time World Freight (Qatar)coreOthersMr. Suhail serves as Board of Director representing Time World Freight in Qatar. Time World Freight handles project cargo operations as highlighted in member news.
• Somatra (Switzerland)coreOthersMr. Patick serves as Board of Director representing Somatra in Switzerland. Somatra has historical connection to the network dating back to at least 1959 based on member information.
• Open Cargo (Spain)coreOthersMr. Alejandro serves as Board of Director representing Open Cargo in Spain. Open Cargo represents the network in the Spanish market.
• Intermodal BrazilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerL.I.N.K. Global participated as an exhibitor at the Intermodal Brazil trade fair, a leading logistics and cargo transportation industry event in South America. The participation showcased network capabilities and facilitated connections with industry professionals.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations): Global non-profit federation representing freight forwarders across 150+ countries. While not a commercial competitor, it influences industry standards, advocacy, and member credentials that shape the market in which L.I.N.K. operates.

Direct peers

• WCA Worldwide (World Cargo Alliance): Largest independent freight forwarder network globally, operating a similar one-or-limited-members-per-country model. Directly comparable to L.I.N.K. Global in business model (membership network of independent forwarders), services (air/sea/road), and target members (mid-sized independent forwarders).
• CargoNet: Network of independent freight forwarders structured similarly to L.I.N.K. with multi-country coverage and air/sea freight services. Targets the same member profile (credible mid-market forwarders) and shipper base (mid-market international trade).
• Global Logistics Network (GLN): International network of independent freight forwarders with a similar selective membership model across multiple countries. Competes head-to-head with L.I.N.K. for forwarder members and offers overlapping air/sea/road services to shippers via its member base.

Emerging players

• Project44: Supply chain visibility platform providing real-time tracking across ocean, air, and road. Increasingly expected by shippers as a baseline capability; L.I.N.K.'s network lacks this unified visibility layer across its 240+ member offices.
• Flexport: Venture-backed digital freight forwarder that has built proprietary technology for quoting, booking, and tracking ocean and air freight. Represents the technology-led disruption that L.I.N.K. and similar traditional networks must respond to in order to retain digitally-minded shippers.
• Freightos: Digital freight marketplace and SaaS provider enabling online booking and pricing for air and ocean freight. Adjacent competitor in that it serves the same shipper and forwarder constituencies but through a software/marketplace model rather than a member network.

Broad incumbents

• Kuehne+Nagel: Top-tier global forwarder with particularly strong seafreight and airfreight market share, plus integrated customs brokerage and contract logistics. A direct alternative for shippers evaluating L.I.N.K.'s network-based model versus a single global provider.
• DSV (now DSV Schenker): Major global forwarder with broad air/sea/road capabilities and recent acquisition-led expansion (Schenker, GIL, UTi). Competes with L.I.N.K. for mid-to-large international shippers and is consolidating the independent forwarder market.
• DHL Global Forwarding: One of the world's largest freight forwarders with owned offices in most major trade lanes and integrated air, ocean, and road services. Competes with L.I.N.K. for international shippers, particularly larger accounts that require SLAs, digital integrations, and global account management.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/linkglobalnetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/linkglobal-logistics-intl
• Instagraminstagram.com/linkglobalnetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 L.I.N.K. Global