APAT - Associação dos Transitários de Portugal (Freight Forwarders Association of Portugal)

What APAT - Associação dos Transitários de Portugal (Freight Forwarders Association of Portugal) does

APAT - Associação dos Transitários de Portugal (Freight Forwarders Association of Portugal) is a non-profit employers association founded in 1974 and headquartered in Lisbon, with a regional delegation in Matosinhos. It serves as the sole recognized national trade association representing approximately 260 corporate freight forwarding, customs, and logistics companies in Portugal, operating under the regulatory framework of Decree-Law 255/99. Members include multinational freight forwarders (DHL, Schenker, Nippon Express, Savino Del Bene) and mid-sized domestic operators (Geocargo, BENTRANS, Lusocargo, Grupolis, Jomatir).

The association operates a portfolio of member services built on standard web technology rather than proprietary AI or data platforms. Core offerings include the My APAT member portal (document access, job listings, circulars, content management), the Forma\u00e7\u00e3o APAT professional training program (delivering DGERT-certified courses and Technical Director certification under Decree-Law 255/99, with 25-hour and 64-hour tracks), the Selo de Excel\u00eancia (Seal of Excellence) certification for qualifying members, the Mapa de Tr\u00e1fego interactive route-search tool, the bimonthly Revista APAT magazine (currently Issue 159), and a branded merchandise store (Loja APAT). Three registered trademarks (Log\u00f3tipo 1, 2, 3) anchor member brand identity.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: monthly member quotas (subscription fees indexed to Portuguese CPI), professional training fees for Technical Director certification and bespoke courses, and a €150 annual Seal of Excellence application fee that funds a member advertising program. APAT also derives strategic value from institutional positions including the Presidency of the Lisbon Port Community, Vice-Presidency of the Douro and Leix\u00f5es Port Community, a seat on the ANAC Advisory Council, and memberships in FIATA, CLECAT (with CLECAT Maritime Institute presidency in 2024), ALACAT, Europlatforms, and the European Air Cargo Programme. Go-to-market is relationship-driven and inbound via advocacy, with ~20 full-time staff supporting operations.

Name

APAT - Associação dos Transitários de Portugal (Freight Forwarders Association of Portugal)

Legal name

Associação dos Transitários de Portugal

Website

https://apat.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

APAT is Portugal's sole national non-profit trade association for freight forwarding companies, serving ~260 corporate members with advocacy, DGERT-certified training, Seal of Excellence certification, and a member portal, while holding presidencies in major port communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Logistics Trade Association Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAHAK

Product Lifecycle, NPI & Industrialization (Design-to-Operate)

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Operations & Supply Chain Consulting

Keywords

• Freight forwarding association
• Logistics trade representation
• Professional freight training
• Transport membership services
• Customs clearance certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Member Subscriptions and Fees: APAT is funded by member subscriptions (quotas). Article 46 of the statutes establishes that membership fees (quotas) and admission fees (jóia de inscrição) constitute primary revenues, updated annually per consumer price index unless otherwise approved by General Assembly.
2. Professional Training Services: Revenue from organizing and delivering professional training courses for freight forwarding sector, both inter-company and intra-company. Additional exam registration fees for Technical Director certification (exam reduced course: 25 hours; full specialization course: 64 hours).
3. Excellence Seal Application Fee: Annual additional quota of €150 for companies applying for or renewing the Seal of Excellence, reverting to an Advertising Fund to promote distinguished freight forwarding companies. Certificate holders receive one free 8-hour certified training course.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

APAT is a non-profit employers' association representing approximately 260 freight forwarding companies in Portugal. It provides industry advocacy before public administration and international bodies, DGERT-certified professional training and Technical Director certification under Dec. Lei 255/99, the registered Selo de Excelência distinction, legal counselling, bimonthly APAT Magazine, licensing support, and access to nationally accepted Standard Trading Conditions. Members include companies engaged in international freight forwarding, express cargo, multimodal transport, logistics, warehousing and distribution.

Product overview

APAT operates as a comprehensive member services platform offering multiple integrated products: the My APAT member portal provides exclusive access to content management and circulars; Formação APAT delivers professional training and e-learning; the Selo de Excelência certification distinguishes qualified members; the Mapa de Tráfego enables route searches; the Revista APAT publishes bimonthly industry content; and the Loja APAT offers branded merchandise. These products serve Portugal's freight forwarding association members with approximately 260 corporate members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Selo de Excelência APAT: Excellence Seal awarded to associate members meeting quality and professionalism criteria including 24 months membership, financial autonomy of 10% or higher, and staff training requirements

Products and services

• Formação APAT (APAT Professional Training)
• Selo de Excelência APAT (APAT Seal of Excellence)

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 260 member companies representing the freight forwarding sector in Portugal
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FIATA - International Federation of Freight Forwarders AssociationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPAT is a member of FIATA, serving on the ABVT (Advisory Board Vocational Training). This provides Portuguese freight forwarders with international representation and access to global best practices in freight forwarding.
• CLECAT - European Association for Forwarding, Transport Logistics and Customs ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPAT maintains membership in CLECAT, the European association for freight forwarding, transport logistics and customs services. APAT held the presidency of the CLECAT Maritime Institute.
• ALACAT - Federacion de Asociaciones Nacionales de Agentes de Carga y Operadores Logísticos de America y el CaribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPAT holds Honorary Member status in ALACAT. An updated protocol exists between APAT and ALACAT for collaboration across Latin American and Caribbean freight forwarding associations.
• Europlatforms - The European Logistics Platforms AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPAT maintains membership in Europlatforms, the European Logistics Platforms Association, for broader industry collaboration.
• ANAC - Autoridade Nacional da Aviação CivilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPAT holds a seat on the Advisory Council (Conselho Consultivo) of ANAC, the National Civil Aviation Authority, representing freight forwarding interests in aviation regulation.
• CPL - Comunidade Portuária de LisboacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPAT holds the Presidency of the Direction of the Lisbon Port Community (CPL), providing significant influence over port logistics and freight forwarding operations at Portugal's largest port.
• CPDL - Comunidade Portuária do Douro e LeixõescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPAT holds the Vice-Presidency of the Direction of the Douro and Leixões Port Community (CPDL), representing freight forwarding interests in the northern port region.
• IPC - Intermodal Promotion Centre PortugalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPAT is a member of IPC (shortsea.pt), promoting intermodal transport solutions in Portugal.
• ICC Portugal - International Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPAT is the National Delegation of the International Chamber of Commerce in Portugal, providing access to international trade standards and dispute resolution.
• CNTMP - Comissão Nacional de Transporte de Mercadorias PerigosasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPAT holds membership in the National Commission for the Transport of Dangerous Goods.
• Port Communities (Setúbal, Aveiro, Sines, Viana do Castelo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPAT holds membership in port communities of Setúbal (CPS), Aveiro (CPA), Sines (CPSI), and Viana do Castelo (CPVC), as well as Forum positions for procedure simplification at Lisbon, Aveiro, Setúbal, and Sines ports.
• Comunidade Aeroportuária de Carga do PortominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPAT holds membership in the Airport Cargo Community of Porto.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• FIATA - International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations: FIATA is the global umbrella body for the freight forwarding industry, of which APAT is itself a member. Comparable as a larger international counterpart that sets global standards (FIATA documents) and provides the framework within which national associations like APAT operate.
• CLECAT - European Association for Forwarding, Transport Logistics and Customs Services: CLECAT is the European association that represents national freight forwarders associations including APAT itself. Direct peer at the European level with overlapping advocacy, training, and standard-setting functions across EU jurisdictions.

Direct peers

• DSLV - Deutscher Speditions- und Logistikverband: DSLV is Germany's national freight forwarding and logistics association, representing the largest freight forwarding market in Europe. Direct peer in function and structure, serving as the central industry voice for German forwarders with similar training and representation services.
• BIFA - British International Freight Association: BIFA is the UK's trade association for international freight services, representing companies engaged in the movement of goods by all transport modes. Direct peer to APAT with the same national representation mandate in the UK market, offering training, certification, and government advocacy.
• NCBFAA - National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America: NCBFAA is the US trade association for customs brokers and freight forwarders, representing the largest English-speaking freight forwarding market. Direct counterpart to APAT in function and structure, with parallel training, certification, and government advocacy roles.

Regional players

• ALACAT - Federación de Asociaciones Nacionales de Agentes de Carga y Operadores Logísticos de América Latina y el Caribe: ALACAT is the Latin American and Caribbean federation of freight forwarder associations, of which APAT holds Honorary Member status. Regional peer representing Spanish and Portuguese-speaking freight forwarder associations across Latin America, with a coordination protocol with APAT.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Apat_Forwarders
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGXmEsVk4otL97ZS6yQ1R0Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/APATassociacao
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apat-associa-o-dos-transit-rios-de-portugal
• Instagraminstagram.com/apat_transitarios

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 APAT - Associação dos Transitários de Portugal (Freight Forwarders Association of Portugal)