Free Ports and Warehouses of Geneva

What Free Ports and Warehouses of Geneva does

Free Ports and Warehouses of Geneva (legal entity: Ports Francs et Entrepôts de Genève SA) is a Swiss mixed-economy public limited company (société anonyme with Canton of Geneva participation) founded in 1888, operating over 110,000 m² of storage and logistics facilities across two Geneva sites — La Praille (over 100,000 m², headquarters) and the Geneva International Airport freight terminal (10,000 m²). The company offers two distinct customs regimes: "dépôt franc sous douane" (suspension of duties and VAT until goods are imported to the country of final destination, unlimited duration) and a Swiss-zone "hors douane" regime for goods in the domestic market. Core services include rental of secured deposits, climate-controlled strongrooms (over 1,200 m² of vault space), general shared warehouse ("Magasin Général"), customizable office space, and a showroom for client presentations, supplemented by complementary services: stock management and handling, transport organization (via Spedlogswiss and IATA memberships), insurance solutions (partnering with Liberty Specialty Markets), and access to an on-site ecosystem of specialized art partners (restorers, photographers, framers, scientific expert workshops, high-definition scanning).

The company's primary customer segments are art galleries, private collectors and auction houses; fine wine collectors and traders; watchmaking and jewelry firms (particularly served from the airport site); and, secondarily, general merchandise traders using the customs suspension regime. The underlying technology is largely physical: thermal and hygrometric climate control, inert-gas fire suppression systems, Minergie-certified buildings, and one of the largest solar installations in French-speaking Switzerland (rooftops of buildings A, B, C, commissioned 2020). The business model is subscription/recurring rental of warehouse space augmented by professional services (handling, transport, insurance, partner access). Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven — direct consultations, art-fair presence (Art Basel, ArtGenève), cultural partnerships (Responsible Art Market, Art Law Foundation), and engagement with Geneva business associations (CCIG, FER Genève). No public pricing exists; quotes are custom-tailored. The company employs between 11 and 50 people, with Anne-Claire Bisch as Directrice générale since November 2020.

Name

Free Ports and Warehouses of Geneva

Legal name

Ports Francs et Entrepôts de Genève SA

Website

https://geneva-freeports.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1888

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Free Ports and Warehouses of Geneva is a 1888-founded Swiss mixed-economy operator running over 110,000 m² of customs-controlled and Swiss-zone storage in Geneva, serving art collectors, galleries, fine-wine traders, and watchmaking and jewelry firms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Warehouse and storage rental: Rental of commercial surfaces including individual storage units, standard deposits, containers, secure strongrooms, and customizable office space. Over 100,000 m² of multifunctional commercial space available.
2. General storage services (Magasin général): Shared storage with managed inventory, customs formalities, insurance, and optimal conservation conditions for art and fine wines.
3. Stock management and handling: Warehouse team provides receiving and handling of goods with experienced staff.
4. Transport organization: Organization of goods transport through Spedlogswiss and IATA memberships, collaborating with specialized providers based on product nature and sensitivity.
5. Insurance solutions: Customized and attractive insurance solutions for stored goods.
6. Specialized on-site partners: Access to specialized on-site partners for artwork services including restorers, photographers, framers, scientific expert workshops, and high-definition scanning.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Free Ports and Warehouses of Geneva (Ports Francs et Entrepôts de Genève SA) operates over 100,000 m² of multifunctional commercial storage space at La Praille plus 10,000 m² at Geneva Airport, offering two customs regimes (duty-suspended dépôt franc and Swiss hors-douane) for artworks, grand crus, cigars, and luxury goods. The company provides climate-controlled strongrooms with thermal and hygrometric monitoring, inert gas fire suppression, and complementary services including stock management, transport organization, insurance, and access to on-site art specialists.

Product overview

Free Ports and Warehouses of Geneva operates as a storage and logistics company offering two primary storage regimes (customs-free zone and Swiss zone) across two locations. The core offering combines rental services (Location) for secured deposits, strong rooms, standard deposits, containers, and offices, with general warehouse services (Magasin Général) for shared storage of artworks and collectibles. Complementary add-on modules include stock management and handling, transport organization (via IATA membership), insurance solutions, and a network of specialized art partners. A showroom facility is available in the customs zone for client presentations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Location (Rental Services) Rental of over 100,000 m² of multifunctional commercial spaces including secured deposits with thermal and hygrometric control for artworks and collectibles, highly secure strong rooms, standard deposits of various types and sizes, containers, and customizable office spaces. Targeted at businesses and collectors needing secure, climate-controlled storage.
• Magasin Général (General Warehouse) Shared storage service for artworks, grand crus, and products with fluctuating stock levels. Includes merchandise flow management, short and long-term storage, inventory management, customs formalities, insurance, and optimal conservation conditions. Suited for art collectors, wine traders, and businesses without need for dedicated premises.
• Régime Dépôt Franc Sous Douane (Customs-Free Zone Storage Regime) Customs-controlled storage regime providing suspension of customs duties and taxes (including VAT) until goods are definitively imported to destination country. Unlimited storage duration; requires proper customs documentation for all incoming and outgoing goods. Ideal for international traders, galleries handling temporary imports, and watchmaking/jewelry companies needing duty-deferred transit.
• Régime Hors Douane/Suisse (Swiss Zone Storage Regime) Storage of Swiss or imported goods outside the customs zone with same service quality. Guaranteed access to merchandise at all times; post office and customs office available on site. Suited for businesses needing flexible access to goods already cleared through customs.
• Gestion de Stock et Manutention (Stock Management and Handling) Warehouse team provides expertise in receiving and handling merchandise, including inventory management and comprehensive logistics services for clients storing goods at the facilities.
• Transport Organized transport of goods in collaboration with specialized service providers, leveraging Spedlogswiss and IATA memberships. Services tailored to product nature and sensitivity. Targeted at clients requiring international freight coordination for valuable or delicate merchandise.
• Assurance (Insurance) Customized insurance solutions for stored merchandise, offering tailored and competitive coverage options in partnership with Liberty Specialty Markets. Targeted at owners of high-value stored goods.
• Partenaires Spécialisés (Specialized Partners Network) Curated network of on-site specialists including art restorers, photographers, framers, scientific expert workshops, and high-definition painting scanning services for artwork management. Targeted at galleries, collectors, and auction houses needing specialized art-care services on-site.
• Showroom Presentation space located within the customs-controlled zone for displaying artwork to potential clients without removing goods from customs suspension. Targeted at galleries and dealers needing to show warehoused pieces to buyers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 130+ years of continuous operation as Geneva's leading storage operator
• +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

Integration3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FER Genève (Fédération des Entreprises Romandes Genève)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 September 2023Active participant in FER Genève annual business events and gatherings, engaging with Geneva economic stakeholders.
• Responsible Art Market (RAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive supporter and partner of Responsible Art Market initiatives. Participated in RAM annual conferences and events addressing sustainable art market practices and anti-money laundering in the art market.
• Art Law Foundation (Fondation pour le droit de l'art)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner of the Art Law Foundation and Geneva Art Law Center, participating in annual symposiums on art transactions, risks, and responsibilities.
• ArtGenèvecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing partner and supporter of ArtGenève art fair. The fair takes place at Palexpo and the company participates in vernissages and events.
• IFAGEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting IFAGE's certificate program in modern and contemporary art market, with the General Manager teaching and supporting the program.
• CCIG (Chambre de commerce, d'industrie et des services de Genève)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerActive member and supporter of CCIG, participating in general assemblies, economic awards events, and networking activities. General Manager Anne-Claire Bisch serves on the CCIG committee.
• SpedlogswisscoreTechnology or IntegrationMember of Spedlogswiss (Swiss freight forwarding and logistics association), enabling organization of goods transport in collaboration with specialized providers.
• IATA (International Air Transport Association)coreTechnology or IntegrationIATA-accredited cargo agent member, enabling organization of international air freight services.
• Specialized art service providerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of on-site specialists including art restorers, photographers, framers, scientific expert workshops, and high-definition art scanning services.
• Liberty Specialty MarketsminorOthersPartnership with Liberty insurance company for art and specialty insurance solutions. Joint webinar on art and insurance with company participation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Gander & White: UK-based fine art shippers and storers with over a century of experience handling and storing high-value works. Comparable in serving collectors, galleries, and museums with secure storage, transport, and conservation support — broader incumbent than a single-site freeport.
• Cadogan Tate: Established global fine art logistics and storage specialist offering transport, installation, and storage across multiple geographies. A broader incumbent in the art-logistics value chain with comparable services but not operating a single large freeport facility.
• Hasenkamp Holding: German-based art logistics specialist with warehouse operations for fine art and high-value goods. Comparable in secure art storage and cross-border logistics services for galleries, collectors, and museums across Europe.

Direct peers

• Singapore Freeport: Asia-Pacific freeport providing bonded, climate-controlled storage for art and collectibles. Competes for global HNW art wealth with comparable customs-suspension benefits and serves an overlapping collector base with European freeports.
• Zurich Freeport: Swiss competitor operating a bonded customs-free storage facility for art and collectibles under the same Swiss 'dépôt franc' regime. Directly comparable in regulatory model, customer base (collectors, galleries, auction houses), and service offering (art storage, vaults, conservation).
• Le Freeport (Paris / France): French freeport providing customs-suspended storage for art and valuables near Paris. Directly competes for European collectors and galleries seeking bonded art storage, offering overlapping services including conservation, transport coordination, and secure vaults.
• Luxembourg Freeport: European freeport offering customs-free, climate-controlled storage for art, precious metals, and collectibles. Comparable in regulatory framework, target customer (HNW collectors and institutions), and integrated services (insurance, transport, security).

Regional players

• Delaware Freeport (USA): US freeport offering customs-bonded storage for art and collectibles near Wilmington, Delaware. Conceptually comparable as a freeport operation but primarily serves North American clients and does not directly compete in the European market.
• Natural Le Coultre (Geneva watchmaking storage): Geneva-based specialist in watchmaking logistics and storage. Regional player serving overlapping watch and jewelry customers in the same Geneva ecosystem, offering complementary secure-storage capabilities for the timepiece trade.

Emerging players

• Masterpiece International: US-headquartered fine art logistics and storage provider specializing in museum-quality transport and climate-controlled storage. Comparable in serving collectors, galleries, and auction houses with secure art-handling services but with a primarily North-American footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ports-francs-et-entrepots-de-geneve-sa-pfeedg-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Free Ports and Warehouses of Geneva