Ranatrans
Ranatrans is a privately held Portuguese freight forwarder (founded 1999) providing air, sea, and land freight, customs, and insurance services to international importers, exporters, and PALOP-focused traders across 196 countries via offices in Portugal, Angola, and Cape Verde.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersVila Nova De Gaia, Portugal
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ranatrans does
Ranatrans – Transitários, S.A. is a privately held Portuguese freight forwarding company founded in 1999 and headquartered in Vila Nova de Gaia, with branch offices in Lisbon (Portugal), Luanda (Angola), and Praia (Cape Verde). The company provides international multimodal logistics services spanning air freight (express, premium, regular, charter, and dangerous goods), sea freight (FCL, LCL/groupage, NVOCC, IMO dangerous goods, and intermodal), land transport (express, regular, ADR dangerous goods), project cargo (OOG, break bulk, RoRo), customs clearance, and merchandise insurance. Its core technology consists of conventional freight forwarding and logistics management systems supporting route coordination across international lanes, with no disclosed proprietary platforms or AI/ML components.
The company operates a B2B sales-led go-to-market supplemented by a self-service website quote request system and global reach delivered through memberships in four major freight networks: Elite (WCA), Frontline Freight Networks, Globalink, and OOG Network, collectively providing agent coverage in 196 countries. Revenue is generated on a transaction-fee basis for forwarding services and on a professional-services basis for customs and insurance offerings, with all pricing determined through individual quote requests. Ranatrans targets three customer segments: international importers and exporters (primary), companies trading with PALOP (Portuguese-speaking African) countries where it holds deep domain expertise (primary), and project cargo / industrial shippers (secondary). The company holds ISO 9001:2015, AEO, IATA agent status, and FIATA membership, and has received Portuguese PME Líder and PME Excelência distinctions from IAPMEI. Ownership is private with no disclosed parent, investor, or M&A activity, and no public revenue figures are available.
Ranatrans firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ranatrans
- Legal name
- Ranatrans – Transitários, S.A.
- Website
- https://ranatrans.pt
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ranatrans is a privately held Portuguese freight forwarder (founded 1999) providing air, sea, and land freight, customs, and insurance services to international importers, exporters, and PALOP-focused traders across 196 countries via offices in Portugal, Angola, and Cape Verde.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ranatrans industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Freight Forwarding Services
- NAICS
- Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Construction & Infrastructure Modules (Bridges, Rail, Roads, Tunneling) (TLACAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bulk & Tanker Road Freight Forwarding (Dry Bulk, Liquids, Chemicals) (TLACACAL), Customs, Trade Compliance & Documentation for Project Cargo (TLAIAKAK)
Keywords
Where Ranatrans is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vila Nova De Gaia
- HQ country
- Portugal
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Ranatrans business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Freight Forwarding Services: Ranatrans generates revenue through freight forwarding fees charged for organizing and managing international cargo shipments via air, sea, and land transport. Services include full container (FCL), less-than-container-load (LCL), express, regular, and charter options.
- Cargo Insurance Services: The company offers merchandise insurance services in partnership with international insurance companies, providing cargo protection with Clause A coverage.
- Customs Services: Customs clearance and documentation services for import and export operations, providing specialized solutions for international trade compliance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom quote-based pricing for all freight services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Ranatrans product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ranatrans is a Portuguese freight forwarding company that organizes and manages international cargo shipments via air, sea, and land transport. It offers door-to-door services including customs clearance and cargo insurance, with particular expertise in African trade routes—especially Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP). The company serves import, export, and cross-trading operations through direct offices in Portugal, Angola, and Cape Verde, supplemented by an international agent network in over 196 countries.
Product overview
Ranatrans is a Portuguese freight forwarding company offering a comprehensive suite of logistics services organized into six core transport categories: Air Freight (Transporte Aéreo), Sea Freight (Transporte Marítimo), Inland Freight (Transporte Terrestre), Project Cargo, Customs Services, and Goods Insurance. The company provides specialized sub-services within each category including express, premium, regular, charter, and dangerous goods options (DGR/ADR/IMO). Services are offered through a network spanning Portugal (headquarters in Vila Nova de Gaia, branch in Lisbon), Angola (Luanda), and Cape Verde (Praia), with agent presence in over 196 countries globally. The product portfolio integrates complementary services such as customs clearance, cargo insurance, and intermodal transport solutions, all supported by IATA and FIATA certifications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Air Freight (Transporte Aéreo)
Quantifiable outcome
- Delivery times of 24-48 hours for air freight express services
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Ranatrans
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ranatrans technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ranatrans partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Elite Global Logistics Network (WCA)coreELITE Global Logistics Network is a 6-star 'Best in Class' transport and logistics network where members join only by invitation. Members are highly respected and financially secure organizations, independently owned and specialized in the global logistics sector. Ranatrans leverages this network for international freight forwarding services.
- Frontline Freight NetworkscoreFFN is a network of competent and reliable transport and logistics professionals with a clear vision of setting up a single network that benefits from the international community of cargo carriers and NVOCC. Today FFN covers 7 continents and 5 oceans.
- GlobalinkcoreGlobalink is a network based on good relationships to build good business, limited to an average of two countries per continent. Committed to high standards and high-quality members to provide the best services worldwide.
- OOG Network (Project Cargo Network)coreOOG Network is a global network of experts in out-of-gauge (OOG) cargo and industrial projects. This partnership strengthens Ranatrans' ability to provide customized, safe, and efficient solutions for transporting oversized cargo anywhere in the world with qualified partners possessing top-tier technical expertise.
- International Insurance Companies (Cargo Insurance)minorRanatrans collaborates with renowned insurance companies with international dimension, providing customers with merchandise insurance with Clause A coverage for cargo protection during transport.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ranatrans competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Euroatlantic Forwarding: Portuguese freight forwarder offering air, sea, and land freight services with strong presence in PALOP and African markets. Directly comparable to Ranatrans in geography, customer base, and service portfolio.
- TIBA (Spain): Spanish-headquartered international freight forwarder with strong Iberian roots and growing presence in African and Latin American trade lanes. Comparable multi-modal offering and mid-market positioning.
- Transitex: Portuguese logistics company specializing in sea freight forwarding with operations across Europe, Africa, and Latin America. Comparable as a similarly sized Iberian forwarder with African trade expertise.
Broad incumbents
- DHL Global Forwarding: Division of Deutsche Post DHL providing international air, ocean, and road freight forwarding plus customs services. Largest global forwarder and competes across all of Ranatrans' service categories.
- DSV Panalpina: Global transport and logistics company providing air and sea freight, road transport, and contract logistics. Comparable service model with significantly larger scale and network ownership.
- DB Schenker: Global logistics provider offering freight forwarding across air, ocean, road, and rail, plus contract logistics. Operates broadly across the same service portfolio as Ranatrans at much greater scale.
- Hellmann Worldwide Logistics: German-headquartered global freight forwarder with comprehensive air, sea, road, and contract logistics services across 195+ countries. Broader incumbent competitor with overlapping service categories.
- Kuehne+Nagel: One of the world's largest freight forwarders, offering sea freight, air freight, overland, and contract logistics globally. Competes for the same import/export customers as Ranatrans, especially on Europe-Africa lanes.
- Geodis: French global logistics provider offering freight forwarding, contract logistics, and distribution across air, sea, and land. Comparable multi-modal forwarder serving European exporters including those trading with Africa.
Regional players
- AGUNSA: Chilean-headquartered multimodal logistics operator with strong Latin American and African presence. Comparable as a regional forwarder expanding into African trade lanes from a non-European base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ranatrans social profiles
Digital presenceRanatrans compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Ranatrans financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ranatrans leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Ranatrans funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ranatrans M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ranatrans
What does Ranatrans do?
Ranatrans is a Portuguese freight forwarding company that organizes and manages international cargo shipments via air, sea, and land transport. It offers door-to-door services including customs clearance and cargo insurance, with particular expertise in African trade routes—especially Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP). The company serves import, export, and cross-trading operations through direct offices in Portugal, Angola, and Cape Verde, supplemented by an international agent network in over 196 countries.
Is Ranatrans a public or private company?
Ranatrans is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Ranatrans founded?
Ranatrans was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ranatrans based?
Ranatrans is headquartered in Vila Nova De Gaia, Portugal, in the Europe region.
How does Ranatrans make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Freight Forwarding Services are the primary driver. The others are cargo Insurance Services and customs Services.
Who are Ranatrans's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Euroatlantic Forwarding, TIBA (Spain) and Transitex. Broad incumbents are DHL Global Forwarding, DSV Panalpina, DB Schenker, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, Kuehne+Nagel and Geodis. AGUNSA is listed as a regional player.
Does Ranatrans have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ranatrans.
What industry is Ranatrans in?
Ranatrans's product category is Freight Forwarding Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLACAIAD, Construction & Infrastructure Modules (Bridges, Rail, Roads, Tunneling), with a secondary code of TLACACAL, Bulk & Tanker Road Freight Forwarding (Dry Bulk, Liquids, Chemicals). Its NAICS code is 488510 and its SIC code is 4731.