Ahlers Logistics

What Ahlers Logistics does

Ahlers Logistics nv is a Belgian family-owned logistics provider founded in 1909 in the Port of Antwerp, now in its third generation under the Ahlers-Leysen family and held via Anacom bvba. The company operates a multi-modal forwarding and contract logistics platform spanning road, rail, ocean, barge, and air transport, supplemented by in-house customs brokerage (including excise goods), owned and rented warehousing (bonded and non-bonded), on-site/factory logistics, project cargo handling for heavy machinery and out-of-gauge loads, and an IoT-based secured transport product branded Safe-T. Its proprietary technology stack combines a new Transport Management System (TMS), an in-house CO2 calculator built on the GLEC framework (ISO 14083), and Power BI dashboards for real-time visibility and carbon reporting; an online customer portal at cp.ahlers.com provides order and tracking access.

The company runs a B2B enterprise sales model through a network of 22+ offices across Belgium, Germany, the Baltics, the Balkans, Ukraine (four offices, 120+ professionals), Romania, Türkiye, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China (Shanghai, Guangzhou), India, Singapore, Vietnam, and the United States, backed by a worldwide agent network. Revenue is generated primarily through transaction fees on freight forwarding, professional services fees on customs brokerage and on-site logistics, and managed-services fees on warehousing and value-added services. Pricing is custom-quoted and delivered through multi-year enterprise contracts, with named accounts including Philip Morris International, BP, International Paper, Prayon, Lavazza, AG der Dillinger Hüttenwerke, and a global cosmetics manufacturer.

Strategically, Ahlers is repositioning under a new CEO (Dave Van den Bos, August 2025) toward international growth and project logistics, with 2024-2026 moves including a Vietnam office and warehouse, an Almaty warehouse, an Uzbekistan government MoU for a logistics hub, a strategic cooperation with Azurite Group on the Middle Corridor, and the rollout of the new TMS as part of a stated "fully digital freight forwarder" vision. The customer mix is concentrated in verticals where complex environments, security, and sustainability reporting matter most: tobacco (a primary segment), heavy industry and energy, chemicals, beverages and spirits, cosmetics, automotive, e-commerce, and energy sector logistics.

Name

Ahlers Logistics

Legal name

Ahlers Logistics nv

Website

https://ahlers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

A Belgian family-owned freight forwarder and logistics provider offering multi-modal transport, customs brokerage, warehousing, and project logistics across Europe, CIS, Asia, and North America, with 25+ years of expertise in emerging markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Logistics Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), General Warehousing and Storage (493110), Support Activities for Transportation (488)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Project Cargo Packing, Crating & Securing (Lashing/Dunnage) (TLAIAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Real-Time Operational Visibility & Exception Management (TLAEAKAC), Tool, Equipment & MRO Asset Tracking (Field/Depot/Plant) (TLAEAMAF), Internal Logistics & On-site Courier Services (BPABAEAH)

Keywords

• Freight forwarding services
• Supply chain management
• Customs brokerage
• Project logistics
• Bonded warehousing

Headquarters

HQ city

Antwerp

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices22 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Freight Forwarding Services: International and domestic forwarding services across all transport modes (road, rail, ocean, barge, air). Revenue generated through freight charges, handling fees, and transport surcharges.
2. Customs Brokerage: Licensed customs broker providing import/export customs clearance services, including excise customs. Revenue from brokerage fees and service charges.
3. Warehousing & Distribution: Own and rented warehouse operations including bonded warehouses, distribution centers, cross-docking, and consolidation centers. Revenue from storage fees and value-added services.
4. On-Site Logistics: Factory logistics and on-site personnel services at customer facilities. Revenue from service contracts and staffing solutions.
5. Project Logistics: Specialized heavy machinery and project cargo logistics including chartering services. Revenue from complex project fees and charter arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ahlers Logistics is an end-to-end supply chain solutions provider offering international multi-modal transportation (road, rail, ocean, barge, and air), customs brokerage and trade documentation (including ECTN), bonded and non-bonded warehousing, on-site factory and in-plant logistics, project cargo handling for heavy industry, and secured transport with IoT-enabled tracking. The company serves enterprise customers across Europe, the CIS, Asia, and North America, with particular specialisation in regulated and high-security verticals such as tobacco, beverages, cosmetics, automotive, mining, and construction. Its value layer is reinforced by proprietary TMS/WMS systems, a GLEC-aligned CO2 calculator, Power BI dashboards, and the Safe-T IoT security solution for high-value shipments.

Product overview

Ahlers Logistics offers a comprehensive suite of logistics services built around a core supply chain management platform. The portfolio is organized as integrated service lines: Transportation (multi-modal forwarding), Customs Services (licensed brokerage), On-Site Logistics (factory/warehouse operations), Secured Transport/Safe-T (IoT-based security solutions), Warehousing (bonded/non-bonded facilities), Project Logistics (heavy machinery and breakbulk), Trade Logistics (Importer of Record, trade facilitation), and Data Analytics including an in-house CO2 calculator and dashboard reporting. These services are delivered through their global office network spanning Europe, CIS, Asia, and North America, supported by a Transport Management System for digital visibility and control.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Safe-T: IoT-based secured transport solution for valuable and theft-sensitive goods using security devices

Products and services

• Supply Chain Solutions

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 30% cost savings in tobacco logistics through secured transport solutions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.

• Azurite GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026Strategic cooperation agreement combining expertise, networks, and operational capabilities to strengthen service offerings and provide more flexibility for customers moving cargo along the Middle Corridor.
• Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade (Uzbekistan)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Memorandum of Understanding to explore development of a logistics hub in Tashkent or Samarkand, reinforcing commitment at high-level roundtable with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Brussels.
• BE-Trans (now Jost)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 November 2021Transfer of container barge transport activities from Germany and France to BE-Trans (now Jost) for approximately 30 customers.
• Philip Morris InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 August 2021Factory logistics partnership enhancing production facilities for PMI with all logistics services supporting factories in Ukraine and Kazakhstan since 2011.
• AMI Global Logistics IndiastrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2021Acquisition boosting portfolio to offer greater value, focusing on creating innovative and value-adding solutions for customers.
• Samudera IndonesiaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 2021Transfer of PT Ahlers Thoeng Indonesia commercial activities to PT Silkargo Indonesia (Samudera Indonesia) as regional partner.
• Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation in international business conference on Middle Corridor development organized by KTZ in Brussels, addressing transit capacity, railway/port infrastructure modernization, and EU Global Gateway integration.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DACHSER: German family-owned logistics group combining European road transport, air & sea freight forwarding, and contract logistics. Similar privately held, family-influenced mid-size profile and integrated service portfolio.
• Agility Logistics: Kuwait-based global logistics provider with deep emerging-market (Middle East, Africa, CIS) expertise in freight forwarding, project logistics, and customs. Comparable emerging-market specialization and multi-modal portfolio.
• Yusen Logistics: Japan-headquartered global logistics provider with strong Asia-Pacific and emerging-market presence in forwarding, contract logistics, and customs. Directly comparable multi-modal, multi-region offering.
• CEVA Logistics: Global contract logistics and freight management provider with strong project, automotive, and energy verticals. Comparable in offering on-site logistics, customs, and project cargo to industrial customers.
• GEFCO: European-headquartered 3PL specializing in automotive, industrial projects, and finished vehicle logistics with strong CIS/emerging-market footprint. Directly overlaps with Ahlers' project logistics and CIS/Ukraine presence.
• Hellmann Worldwide Logistics: Germany-headquartered, family-influenced mid-size global freight forwarder offering multi-modal transport, contract logistics, and customs services across Europe, CIS, Africa, and Asia. Closely comparable in size, heritage, and geographic spread to Ahlers.

Broad incumbents

• DSV: Danish global transport and logistics group offering road, air & sea, and contract logistics with strong European base and growing project/break-bulk capabilities. Larger, broader incumbent in the same market.
• Kuehne+Nagel: One of the world's largest freight forwarders with global multi-modal, contract logistics, and customs services. Competes for the same enterprise customers as Ahlers but at vastly greater scale and broader geographic coverage.
• Nippon Express: Japanese global logistics conglomerate covering forwarding, warehousing, moving, and heavy haul. Larger incumbent with similar project and industrial capabilities across Asian corridors.

Regional players

• Kerry Logistics Network: Asia-headquartered integrated logistics provider with strong China, SE Asia, and intra-Asia forwarding, warehousing, and customs offering. Comparable Asia footprint but primarily Asia-centric versus Ahlers' Europe/CIS base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGqYwKy-szq9T9VtyBDHnEg?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/AhlersNews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ahlers/mycompany/?viewAsMember=true

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries6 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 Ahlers Logistics