What Middle East Shipping Company does

Middle East Shipping Company (MESC) is a privately held Libyan freight forwarder and logistics integrator headquartered in Tripoli, founded in 2016. The company operates across the four major Libyan commercial ports — Tripoli, Misrata, Benghazi, and Khoms — and provides a full-stack service portfolio: ocean freight (FCL/LCL), air freight, land transport, customs clearance, warehousing, door-to-door delivery, ship agency services, and specialized transportation for oversized, hazardous, temperature-sensitive, and live-animal cargo. It maintains a stated headcount of ~29 employees and is led by CEO & Chairman Abdelaziz Alarbeid, with Mohamed Zarrougi as CFO.

MESC distributes services through direct sales from its Libyan offices and a network of channel partners. It is a member of eight international logistics networks (CGLI, East-West Logistics, Millennium Logistic Network, WTC Alliance, World Freight Network, ALNA, Alfa Global Logistics, Global Value Network) and holds linked-carrier agreements with MSC, Cosco, Evergreen, One Ocean Network Express, and Arkas. Strategic bilateral partnerships include Aykar Logistics (Turkey), MUL (China), Medahip (China Qingdao), and CCS (Italy). Customs clearance is delivered through a long-standing venture with Alafdal Custom Clearance Services Company, established in 1990.

The revenue model is transaction-fee based across freight and transport services, with professional-services fees for customs and ship-agency work and managed-services pricing for warehousing. Pricing is custom quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Reported operating scale includes 795 international shipments handled since inception and a claimed reach of 20 countries and 60 connected locations. No external funding rounds or institutional investors are disclosed; growth is reinvested and capacity-constrained by Libya's political and currency environment.

Name

Middle East Shipping Company

Legal name

Middle East Shipping Company

Website

https://mesc.ly

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Middle East Shipping Company (MESC) is a Tripoli-based Libyan freight forwarder offering ocean, air, and land transport, customs clearance, warehousing, and specialized cargo services across four Libyan ports, serving international shippers and local businesses via a network of carrier and logistics-network partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Logistics Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF) (TLACABAE), Ocean Export Forwarding (Booking/VGM/SI/BL) (TLACABAF), Trade Compliance & Ocean Regulatory Services (Sanctions/Export Controls) (TLACABAL), Project & OOG/Breakbulk Ocean Forwarding (Out-of-Gauge, RoRo) (TLACABAH), Sea–Road (Short-Sea/Drayage) Intermodal Forwarding (TLACAEAB), Ocean Freight Brokerage (FCL/LCL) (TLADAMAF)

Keywords

• Freight forwarding services
• Customs brokerage
• Port agency services
• Multimodal logistics
• Warehousing solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Tripoli

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ocean Freight Services: Full Container Load (FCL) and Less Than Container Load (LCL) ocean freight services with global coverage through partner carriers
2. Air Freight Services: Daily worldwide air freight departures for rapid and reliable transportation of goods with partnerships with leading airlines
3. Land Transport: Road transportation services across Libya connecting ports to final destinations with modern vehicle fleet
4. Customs Clearance Services: Through partnership with Alafdal Custom Clearance Services Company since 2018, handling documentation, tariffs, and regulatory compliance
5. Specialized Transportation: Handling oversized, hazardous, temperature-sensitive cargo, heavy machinery, perishable goods, high-value items, and cattle/animal transport
6. Ship Agency Services: Ship handling agency services including crew accommodation, security liaisons, cargo supervision, and heavy lifting solutions
7. Freight Forwarding: International freight forwarding services managing cargo from Libya to worldwide destinations
8. Warehousing and Storage: Storage services including customs warehouses and warehouse authorization facilities
9. Door-to-Door Delivery: Complete door-to-door delivery services including cross stuffing, custom inspection, packing, and labeling

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Middle East Shipping Company (MESC) is a Tripoli-based freight forwarding and logistics provider offering land, ocean, and air freight services alongside customs clearance, port agency, warehousing, and project logistics. The company coordinates cross-border shipments and supply chain operations for businesses engaged in import/export activity in Libya and the wider region.

Product overview

Middle East Shipping Company (MESC) operates as a Tripoli-based logistics and shipping company offering a comprehensive suite of freight and transportation services. The core product portfolio consists of three primary service lines: Land Transport (road transportation with Parcel, LTL, and FTL options), Ocean Freight (containerized and bulk shipping), and Air Freight (daily worldwide departures). These are complemented by specialized services including Special Transports for oversized/hazardous cargo, Custom Clearance and Door-to-Door Delivery, Intermodal Solutions, General Cargo handling, Sports Logistics, Oil and Gas Transportation, and Dry Masonry/Cattle Transport. The company provides both Full Container Load (FCL) and Less Than Container Load (LCL) ocean freight options, serving clients ranging from individual shippers to large industrial companies requiring complete shipping solutions from Libya to global destinations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Land Transport

Quantifiable outcome

• 795 international shipments successfully handled
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Global Value NetworkcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 September 2025Official recognition as a member of Global Value Network in September 2025. Certificate of membership highlights commitment to ethics, excellence, and adherence to international standards, strengthening global credibility.
• Alfa Global LogisticscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2025Official membership in Alfa Global Logistics family from September 2025 until August 2027. Highlights growing presence in international logistics networks and commitment to strengthening partnerships across the sector.
• MUL (Master Union Logistic Limited) - ChinacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2024Strategic meeting held in Shenzhen in 2024 with MUL China office. High-level discussions centered on streamlining shipping routes, optimizing logistics operations, and creating efficient trade links between China and the Middle East.
• CCS ItalyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 September 2024Mr. Majdi from CCS Italy visited MESC in Tripoli to explore potential avenues for partnership. Discussions focused on strengthening trade relations and leveraging respective expertise to drive growth in shipping and logistics sectors.
• World Freight Network & ALNAcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Membership in both World Freight Network and ALNA announced in 2024. These strategic alliances significantly expand global reach and enhance logistics capabilities.
• East-West Logistics & Millennium Logistic NetworkcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Membership in both East-West Logistics and Millennium Logistic Network joined in 2022. Strategic alliances enhance global reach and strengthen logistics solutions for better client service.
• Aykar Logistic Company (Turkey)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Official partnership with Aykar Logistic Company in Turkey announced in 2020, marking a significant step in enhancing logistics capabilities and expanding regional reach. Collaboration brings together MESC's established Middle East presence with Aykar's extensive Turkish infrastructure.
• CGLI OrganizationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Proud member since 2019, enhancing commitment to high-quality service and operational excellence. CGLI membership provides access to global logistics network and industry best practices.
• Medahip China Qingdao OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership established since 2019 and reinforced in 2023. Ongoing cooperation marked by strong relations, mutual trust, and shared goals in enhancing shipping and logistics services across Middle East and Asia.
• Alafdal Custom Clearance Services CompanycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018Venture began in 2018 with Alafdal Custom Clearance Services Company, established in 1990 as one of the most renowned companies in customs clearance. Partnership provides comprehensive customs management services.
• One Ocean Network ExpresscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLinked carrier providing ocean freight services through extensive global shipping network.
• EvergreencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLinked carrier providing ocean freight services through global shipping network.
• MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLinked carrier providing ocean freight services through global shipping network.
• Cosco Shipping LinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLinked carrier providing ocean freight services through global shipping network.
• ArkascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLinked carrier providing ocean freight services through regional and global shipping network.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• DSV: Denmark-based global freight forwarder with strong air, sea, and road forwarding capabilities including in Africa and the Middle East — directly overlaps with MESC's multimodal service set.
• DHL Global Forwarding: Deutsche Post DHL's air and ocean freight forwarding division with global network, customs brokerage, and specialized industrial logistics — competes with MESC for multinational clients shipping via Libya.
• Agility Logistics: Kuwait-headquartered global logistics provider with significant MENA and emerging-markets forwarding operations; larger, broader portfolio but overlapping ocean, air, and customs brokerage capabilities.
• Kuehne+Nagel: One of the world's largest freight forwarders with comprehensive ocean, air, and overland services including oil & gas and project logistics — directly comparable offerings to MESC across most product lines.
• Hellmann Worldwide Logistics: Germany-headquartered global freight forwarder with extensive MENA and Africa operations offering multimodal forwarding, customs, and specialized transport — comparable service breadth to MESC but at vastly larger scale.
• CEVA Logistics: CMA CGM-owned global logistics provider offering multimodal forwarding, contract logistics, and customs services across MENA — comparable business model to MESC at larger scale.
• Expeditors International: US-listed global logistics company focused on ocean and air freight forwarding with customs brokerage — comparable service offering to MESC across international trade lanes.

Regional players

• Aramex: MENA-headquartered logistics company with strong regional presence in shipping, freight forwarding, and last-mile — comparable regional positioning to MESC though primarily outside Libya.
• Omsan Logistics: Turkish multimodal logistics and freight forwarding provider offering ocean, air, road, and customs services — comparable to MESC's service mix though operating primarily in Turkey rather than Libya.

Direct peers

• GAC Group: Global logistics and freight forwarding group with deep MENA and North Africa presence, offering multimodal shipping, customs, and supply chain services — directly comparable business model to MESC in the regional forwarding niche.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mesc-middle-east-shipping-company
• Instagraminstagram.com/middle_east_shipping?r=nametag
• Facebookfacebook.com/MiddleEastShipping

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Middle East Shipping Company