Friendship International

What Friendship International does

Friendship International B.V. is an independent Dutch freight forwarding company headquartered in Urmond, Netherlands, founded in 1994 and operating with 11-50 employees. The company provides international air, ocean, and road freight forwarding, complemented by warehousing, customs clearance, and post-production logistics services for entertainment and events clients. Its core differentiator is specialization in regulated cargo: it holds IATA air-freight certification, ADR dangerous goods authorization, and GDP-compliant pharmaceutical handling credentials, and also serves aerospace, chemicals, automotive, and fashion shippers. Trade is conducted through a quote-based, direct-sales model targeting mid-market B2B exporters and importers.

The firm operates an asset-light model, executing shipments through a curated global network of carrier partners and overseas agents rather than owned aircraft, vessels, or international offices. This network spans Europe, Asia, and the Americas, with particular coverage emphasis on Eastern Europe. Revenue is generated on a per-shipment brokerage basis with margins elevated by the regulatory complexity of dangerous goods, pharmaceutical, and aerospace freight. The company has recently extended its product set into post-production logistics, sustainability-focused freight, and additional modes (rail, courier), positioning itself as a multi-modal single point of contact for compliance-heavy shippers.

Growth signals are modest: the firm appears to be sustaining its existing customer base and incrementally broadening its service portfolio rather than pursuing aggressive scaling. No funding rounds, acquisitions, or leadership changes are disclosed in the available data, and there is no indication of technology platform or AI/ML capability development. The business model is operationally conventional for a small independent forwarder, with competitive durability resting on specialized certifications, long-tenured carrier relationships, and the 30-year brand track record.

Name

Friendship International

Legal name

Friendship International BV

Website

https://friendship-int.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Friendship International B.V. is an independent Dutch freight forwarder (founded 1994, 11-50 staff) that arranges air, ocean, road, and rail shipments, plus warehousing, customs, and post-production logistics, with specialization in IATA/ADR/GDP-regulated cargo for pharmaceutical, dangerous goods, and aerospace clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freight Forwarding & Logistics Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (48423)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Water Transportation (4400), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)

akta.pro primary industry

Ocean Freight Brokerage (FCL/LCL) (TLADAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance) (TLACABAG), LCL (Less-than-Container Load) Consolidation/Deconsolidation (TLACABAB), Bills of Lading (B/L) & Sea Waybill Issuance/Management (TLACAHAA), Trade Compliance & Ocean Regulatory Services (Sanctions/Export Controls) (TLACABAL)

Keywords

• Freight forwarding
• Air freight services
• Ocean freight forwarding
• Road transport logistics
• Customs clearance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Urmond

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Air Freight Forwarding: IATA-certified air freight services for import, export, and cross-trade shipments with expertise in chemicals, pharmaceuticals, automotive, aerospace, and fashion logistics. Revenue is generated through weight-based charges, dangerous goods handling fees, and specialized service premiums.
2. Ocean Freight Forwarding: Full-service ocean freight management for FCL (Full Container Load), LCL (Less than Container Load), reefer containers, project and out-of-gauge cargo, and cross-trade shipments. Revenue derived from container bookings, handling charges, and door-to-door transport coordination fees.
3. European Road Transport: LTL (Less than Truck Load), FTL (Full Truck Load), groupage, express, ADR dangerous goods, intermodal, and inland container transport services across Europe. Revenue based on shipment volume, distance, and service type.
4. Warehousing & Cross-Docking: Professional cargo handling including container up to 40FT, loading, unloading, sorting, palletizing, repacking, and consolidation services. Revenue generated through handling fees and storage charges.
5. Customs & Compliance Services: Complete customs formalities for import, export, and fiscal representation with accurate documentation and international regulation compliance. Revenue from customs clearance service fees.
6. Post-Production & Factory Logistics: Outsourced logistics including inventory management, warehousing, order handling, fulfillment, distribution, and value-added services like labelling and quality checks. Revenue based on service scope, volume, and facility access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Friendship International BV is an independent freight forwarder providing end-to-end global logistics solutions across air, ocean, and road transport modes, complemented by warehousing and cross-docking, customs and compliance, and post-production/factory logistics services. The company holds IATA certification and specializes in handling regulated cargo including dangerous goods (ADR), GDP-compliant pharmaceuticals, aerospace, automotive, and fashion logistics. Operations are coordinated through a worldwide network of carriers, trusted agents, and European trucking partners.

Product overview

Friendship International operates as an independent logistics company offering an integrated portfolio of freight and supply chain services. The core offering spans air freight (IATA-certified), ocean freight (FCL/LCL/reefer/project cargo), road transport (European FTL/LTL/groupage/ADR), and warehousing with cross-docking capabilities. Supporting services include customs & compliance and post-production & factory logistics. The company also embeds sustainability as a operational capability across all transport modes. Services are coordinated through a global partner network and delivered with a personal, boutique-style approach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Air Freight IATA-certified air freight solutions for import, export, and cross-trade shipments covering chemicals, pharmaceuticals, automotive, aerospace, and fashion logistics. Includes dangerous goods handling for powders, granulates, liquids, and batteries with 24/7 DG support, Green-Light Procedure pre-clearance, and chargeable-weight coaching to optimize volumetric efficiency.
• Ocean Freight Full-service ocean freight management for import, export, and cross-trade shipments worldwide covering FCL (Full Container Load), LCL (Less than Container Load), reefer containers, project and out-of-gauge cargo, open-top and flat-rack units, and shipper-owned containers, with door-to-door coordination including customs clearance and inland barge or rail delivery.
• Road Transport European road transport services including FTL (Full Truck Load), LTL (Less than Truck Load), groupage, express, ADR dangerous goods transport, intermodal options, and inland container haulage across Netherlands, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Eastern Europe.
• Warehousing & Cross-Docking Professional cargo handling through trusted partners covering containers up to 40FT and special equipment such as open-top and flat-rack units, including loading, unloading, sorting, palletizing, repacking, and consolidation services under strict safety and quality standards.
• Customs & Compliance Complete customs formalities for import, export, and fiscal representation, ensuring accurate documentation and compliance with all international regulations to prevent unnecessary delays and extra costs.
• Post-Production & Factory Logistics Outsourced logistics from the production line to final destination including inventory management, warehousing, order handling, fulfilment, B2B/B2C distribution, and value-added services such as labelling, repacking, and quality checks.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• FenexminorOthersFenex (Nederlandse Expeditievoorwaarden) provides general forwarding conditions that Friendship International operates under. This represents standard industry terms rather than an active partnership.
• IATAcoreTechnology or IntegrationInternational Air Transport Association certification that enables Friendship International to operate as an official air freight forwarder with access to airline systems, training programs, and industry standards compliance.
• Major Shipping LinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing relationships with major carriers providing competitive rates, flexible scheduling, and reliable sailing options to and from every global trade lane.
• Global Agent NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrusted agents worldwide ensuring smooth operations, predictable transit times, and transparent communication from pickup to delivery across all major trade regions.
• European Transport PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExtensive network of European trucking partners providing LTL, FTL, groupage, express, ADR, and intermodal transport services with modern partner fleets and experienced planners.
• DG Partner NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationDangerous goods partner network offering on-site (re)packing with UN-certified materials, lithium-battery expertise, and full end-to-end documentation with photo verification.
• Leading Airlines and Specialized Pharma CarrierscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClose partnerships with leading airlines and specialized pharmaceutical carriers ensuring highest level of care and priority handling for pharma shipments.
• Warehouse and Handling PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrusted partners providing professional handling for all cargo types including containers up to 40FT and special equipment such as open-top and flat-rack units under strict safety and quality standards.
• CO₂-Neutral Operations PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners who prioritize CO₂-neutral operations and share vision of a more sustainable logistics industry, supporting Friendship's commitment to environmental responsibility.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• DB Schenker: German-headquartered global logistics provider with strong European road, air, and ocean freight operations. Comparable multi-modal forwarder serving similar mid-market and enterprise customers across European trade lanes.
• CEVA Logistics: Global supply chain management company offering freight management, contract logistics, and finished vehicle logistics. Comparable for multi-modal forwarding with European footprint; considerably larger and contract-logistics heavy.
• DACHSER: German-headquartered logistics provider with strong European road freight and air/ocean forwarding arms. Comparable for European road transport and global forwarding; substantially larger and road-network-heavy.
• DHL Global Forwarding: Division of Deutsche Post DHL providing international air, ocean, road freight and customs services. Overlaps Friendship International's multi-modal offering and regulated-cargo expertise, but serves enterprise customers globally.
• Kuehne+Nagel: One of the world's largest freight forwarders with deep expertise in airfreight, seafreight, contract logistics, and specialized pharma/DG verticals. Comparable for end-to-end global forwarding, but operates at vastly greater scale than Friendship International.
• DSV: Global freight forwarder with strong European (including Dutch) heritage offering air, sea, and road transport across all major trade lanes. Comparable as a multi-modal forwarder with global agent network; larger scale and broader service portfolio than Friendship International.

Emerging players

• Flexport: US-headquartered digital-first freight forwarder offering air, ocean, and trucking with technology-enabled visibility and quoting. Comparable as a multi-modal forwarder competing for similar mid-market customers; differentiates via proprietary software platform.
• Twill (by Maersk): Digital freight platform backed by Maersk offering small and mid-sized businesses simplified ocean, air, and inland booking with online tracking. Comparable for multi-modal forwarding targeting the same mid-market segment; differentiated by tech-first delivery model.

Direct peers

• Jan de Rijk Logistics: Netherlands-based logistics provider offering European road transport, air and ocean freight forwarding, and specialized services. Comparable as a Dutch independent forwarder with multi-modal capabilities and similar European footprint.
• Rhenus Logistics: European mid-sized freight forwarder with operations across air, ocean, road, and contract logistics. Closely comparable to Friendship International in size band, multi-modal service mix, and European/global trade-lane focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friendship-international-b-v-
• Facebookfacebook.com/maastrichtairport.nl

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 Friendship International