SOCODAM SARL

What SOCODAM SARL does

SOCODAM SARL is a privately-held logistics and customs services company headquartered in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, founded in October 1986 by Jean-Paul Dambana Rodall and now led by Jonathan Dambana Rodall as Administrateur Directeur Général. The company operates six business poles — transport and logistics, customs clearance and transit, customs-bonded warehousing (EPC), insurance and reinsurance brokerage as the official SONAS broker, packing and unpacking/moving, and maritime agency — serving import-export traders, diplomatic missions, petroleum companies, government organizations, and international NGOs.

The company generates revenue through professional service fees across its logistics portfolio, including customs brokerage commissions on imported/exported goods, freight charges for container transport on the Matadi-Kinshasa corridor, warehouse storage fees at DGDA-conceded EPC sites, insurance brokerage commissions through SONAS, packing service fees, and specialized petroleum logistics contracts. Pricing is quote-based with multi-year contracts and is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market relies on direct field sales through a national network of 13 office locations spanning 17 cities, supported by basic digital presence (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter) and a website quote request form.

SOCODAM's competitive position is anchored by regulatory assets granted by the DGDA, including EPC public warehousing concessions (since November 1998), road carrier approval (March 2014), maritime agent accreditation (May 2015), and authorization as one of a small number of private agencies permitted to clear petroleum products. The company owns an integrated fleet of trucks, trailers, barges, and cranes up to 110T for petroleum and container logistics. Headcount is approximately 45 employees, with the business operating as a family-controlled enterprise under the Dambana Rodall family with no external institutional investors, funding rounds, or public listing identified.

Name

SOCODAM SARL

Legal name

SOCODAM SARL

Website

https://socodam.cd

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SOCODAM SARL is a Kinshasa-headquartered DRC logistics and customs services provider offering customs clearance, container transport, EPC warehousing, SONAS insurance brokerage, packing, and maritime agency across 17 cities. It serves import-export traders, diplomatic missions, petroleum operators, government entities, and international NGOs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freight Forwarding and Customs Brokerage

NAICS

Support Activities for Transportation (488), Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation (48311)

SIC

Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412), Trucking (No Local) (4213)

akta.pro primary industry

Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance) (TLACABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Intermodal Drayage Coordination & Port/Rail Ramp Transfers (TLACAEAH), Defense & Government Project Logistics (TLACAIAG)

Keywords

• Customs clearance services
• Freight transport logistics
• Bonded warehousing services
• Petroleum logistics services
• Insurance brokerage services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kinshasa

HQ country

Congo - Kinshasa

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Customs Clearance (Dedouanement): Professional customs clearance services for import-export goods across DRC cities including Kinshasa, Matadi, Lubumbashi, Kasumbalesa, Mweneditu, Mbuji-Mayi, Goma, Beni, Butembo, Bunagana, Ishasha, Bukavu, Uvira, Kisangani, Bunia, Aru, and Mahagi. Revenue generated through service fees for customs brokerage.
2. Transport Services: Truck fleet transport for containers between Matadi-Kinshasa and vice versa, inter-urban transport, and air cargo transport within Kinshasa. Revenue from freight charges based on shipment volume and distance.
3. Warehousing: Public customs-conceded warehouses (EPC) providing short-term and long-term storage, consolidation services, and cargo handling. Revenue from storage fees.
4. Insurance Brokerage: Official broker for SONAS (Société nationale d'assurance). Provides insurance packages for vehicles, boats, buildings, and real estate. Revenue through brokerage commissions.
5. Packing & Unpacking Services: Moving, packing, and unpacking services in Kinshasa. Includes surveying, packing, crating, weighing, and marking of household goods, luggage, personal effects, furniture, vehicles, and supplies. Revenue from service fees.
6. Petroleum Logistics: Land and maritime petroleum logistics, equipment deployment, and personnel supply to petroleum sites. Revenue from logistics service contracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SOCODAM SARL is a DRC-based logistics company operating across six business poles: customs clearance and transit, transport, customs-bonded warehousing, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, packing and unpacking, and maritime agency. The company provides integrated logistics solutions for import-export traders, diplomatic missions, petroleum operators, government entities, and international NGOs, leveraging DGDA-authorized customs warehouses and licensed petroleum logistics capabilities across 13+ offices and 17 cities in DRC.

Product overview

SOCODAM SARL is a logistics and customs company operating 6 business pillars: transport and logistics, customs clearance and transit, customs-bonded warehousing, insurance and reinsurance, packing and unpacking, and maritime agency. The company offers a unified service portfolio where core offerings like customs clearance, transport, warehousing, and insurance work together as integrated solutions. Additional services include petroleum logistics, integrated logistics management, and consulting services. Founded in October 1986, the company ranks among the top 5 national leaders in the DRC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ years of operational experience in DRC logistics market
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• EmbalcominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional packing and moving partner for household goods, office furniture, and personal effects in Kinshasa. Embalco assists with special requirements execution and training of SOCODAM's packers and movers.
• Logistics Sans FrontieresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational logistics partner providing specialized packing and unpacking services for cross-border shipments in accordance with international air and surface freight standards.
• JADEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for packing and moving services assisting SOCODAM with professional packaging, crating, weighing, and marking of items including vehicles and household goods.
• SONAS (Société Nationale d'Assurance)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial broker for the national insurance company SONAS. SOCODAM provides insurance packages authorized by the Congolese government including coverage for vehicles, boats, buildings, and real estate. Negotiating agreements with foreign partners for independent insurance operations.
• DGDA (Direction Générale des Douanes et Accises)coreOthersGovernment customs authority that granted SOCODAM concession for public customs warehouses (EPC) and licensed the company as authorized customs clearance agent for petroleum products.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CEVA Logistics: Global freight management and contract logistics provider with African operations including customs brokerage and warehousing. Comparable to SOCODAM across multiple service poles including customs, transport, and warehousing for enterprise clients.
• Agility Logistics: Middle East-headquartered global logistics provider with operations across Africa offering freight forwarding, customs, and contract logistics. Comparable to SOCODAM on integrated logistics, customs clearance, and emerging-market government/NGO client mix.
• Expeditors International: Global freight forwarder offering ocean/air freight, customs brokerage, and distribution services with selective African presence. Comparable to SOCODAM on customs brokerage and multimodal forwarding but with stronger technology platform.
• DSV Panalpina: Global freight forwarder with growing African footprint offering ocean/air freight, customs clearance, and road transport. Directly comparable to SOCODAM's customs brokerage and inter-city forwarding offerings, though at global scale.

Regional players

• Imperial Logistics (Imperial Group): South Africa-headquartered logistics provider with significant operations across sub-Saharan Africa in freight forwarding, warehousing, and customs. Comparable to SOCODAM in integrated logistics and warehousing scale, though primarily serves Southern Africa rather than Central Africa.

Broad incumbents

• DHL Global Forwarding: DHL's freight forwarding division offers international ocean/air freight, customs brokerage, and warehousing globally with established African operations. Comparable to SOCODAM in customs clearance and forwarding, but operates at vastly larger scale and broader geographic scope.
• Maersk Logistics & Services: Global ocean carrier and integrated logistics provider with end-to-end supply chain offerings including customs and inland transport. Comparable to SOCODAM on maritime agency and inland-from-port forwarding, with direct Matadi-region ocean service relevance.
• Kuehne+Nagel: One of the world's largest freight forwarders with significant African presence, offering ocean/air freight, customs brokerage, and integrated logistics. Comparable to SOCODAM on customs brokerage and multimodal forwarding for enterprise clients, but at global scale.
• Bolloré Africa Logistics: Dominant pan-African logistics and port operator with deep presence across francophone West and Central Africa. Closely comparable to SOCODAM on customs brokerage, port-to-inland transport (Matadi-style), and warehousing, with overlapping government and mining-sector clients.
• CMA CGM Logistics: Major ocean carrier and logistics provider with African port operations and inland logistics. Comparable to SOCODAM on maritime agency and ocean-shipment customs brokerage, particularly given the ocean gateway at Matadi.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/InfoSocodam
• Facebookfacebook.com/socodamkin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/socodam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 SOCODAM SARL