Name

AB Plant Shipping Ltd

Legal name

AB Plant Shipping Ltd

Website

https://abplantshipping.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Freight Forwarding Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Plant Relocation & Machinery Moving (TLADAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Export/Import Documentation Preparation (Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Shipper’s Letter of Instruction) (TLACAHAD), Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF) (TLACABAE), International Vehicle Shipping & Export (RoRo/Container) (HSAKAFAJ), Trade Compliance & Ocean Regulatory Services (Sanctions/Export Controls) (TLACABAL)

Keywords

• Freight forwarding services
• Heavy machinery shipping
• Agricultural equipment transport
• International cargo logistics
• Container shipping services

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Freight Forwarding Services: Fees charged for shipping heavy plant machinery, agricultural equipment, commercial vehicles, and containers globally. Services include door-to-door transport, port-to-port shipping, customs clearance, export/import documentation, marine insurance, and cargo tracking. Revenue generated per shipment based on cargo type, dimensions, destination, and service level required.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AB Plant Shipping is a UK-based global freight forwarder that arranges international shipping of heavy plant machinery, agricultural equipment, commercial vehicles, and containerized cargo. Services cover door-to-door and quay-to-quay transport via RoRo, container, flatrack, and project cargo methods, with full handling of customs clearance, export/import documentation, marine insurance, and letters of credit across more than 220 ports worldwide.

Product overview

AB Plant Shipping is a UK-based global freight forwarding company founded in April 1987, offering a comprehensive suite of shipping and transport services. The core offerings include construction equipment shipping (from small bobcats to large machinery), agricultural equipment shipping (tractors, combines, harvesters), container shipping (20ft, 40ft, high cube, open tops, flat racks, LCL), truck and commercial vehicle shipping, and project/breakbulk cargo handling. The company provides add-on services including marine insurance, letters of credit, customs clearance, and export/import documentation. Services are delivered through a global network connecting around 220 ports across all 7 continents, with inter-European trucking and comprehensive Middle East and Americas shipping capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Construction Equipment Shipping International shipping services for new or used mining, construction, and road building equipment and machinery, including wheeled, tracked, towable, and static items. Designed for construction companies, equipment dealers, and individuals shipping heavy machinery globally.
• Agricultural Equipment Shipping International shipping services for agricultural machinery including tractors, cultivators, ploughs, water bowsers, grain storage equipment, woodchippers, forage harvesters, combines, trailers, balers, feeders, and spreaders. Designed for farmers, agricultural dealers, contractors, and auction buyers.
• Container Shipping Container shipping services offering 20ft, 40ft, high cube, open tops, flat racks, and LCL (Less Container Load) options for various cargo types, including dismantle and packing for non-standard cargo.
• Truck and Commercial Vehicle Shipping International shipping services for truck heads, tippers, full truck and trailer combinations, vans, cars, and 4x4 vehicles, typically via RoRo shipping methods.
• Project and Breakbulk Cargo Shipping Shipping services for out-of-gauge and project cargo, including large plant machinery, cars, and replacement parts via RoRo, container, flatrack, project, or static transport methods.
• Door to Door Transport Complete door-to-door transport solutions from collection to final destination, including export and import clearance, for full-service international shipping.
• Customs Clearance Export and import customs clearance services in the UK and globally, supporting all shipping operations.
• Marine Insurance Cargo insurance services including guidance on General Average, providing protection against shared vessel loss costs and coverage options for international shipments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Worldwide network connecting over 220 ports
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Grimaldi Lines: European RoRo/concarrier with strong UK–Mediterranean–West Africa and Americas links, regularly serving the same ports as AB Plant (Southampton, Antwerp, Baltimore, Veracruz). Comparable as a carrier-partner for plant and vehicle cargo.
• Kuehne+Nagel: One of the world's largest freight forwarders, with global project logistics and over-sized cargo capabilities. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the same construction, mining, and ag-machinery shipping accounts as AB Plant, but at much greater scale.
• Höegh Autoliners: Global RoRo carrier focused on cars, trucks, and heavy machinery. Directly comparable on the ocean-transport layer that AB Plant books space on for its commercial vehicle and plant machinery customers.
• Expeditors International: Large global freight forwarder with strong ocean and air forwarding capabilities. Comparable as a broad incumbent with customs brokerage and documentation services that overlap AB Plant's add-on service stack.
• Wallenius Wilhelmsen: Global RoRo and vehicle carrier (vessel operator) with a strong high-and-heavy and agricultural equipment book. Comparable to AB Plant because it controls the underlying ocean capacity for exactly the cargo type AB Plant forwards (RoRo, breakbulk, project cargo).
• DHL Global Forwarding: Global freight forwarding division of Deutsche Post DHL, offering ocean, air, road, and customs services worldwide. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering end-to-end forwarding that overlaps with AB Plant's door-to-door plant and machinery offering.

Direct peers

• Tuscor Lloyds International: UK-headquartered forwarder specializing in project cargo, heavy lift, and out-of-gauge equipment worldwide. Directly comparable to AB Plant on oversized machinery, project cargo capabilities, and UK-based international specialist forwarding.
• Peters & May: UK-based global forwarder specializing in international vehicle, yacht, and project cargo shipping. Highly comparable to AB Plant: same UK origin, same focus on specialist out-of-gauge and RoRo/container cargo, similar door-to-door service model.
• International Vehicle Shipping (IVS): UK-headquartered specialist in international vehicle and commercial vehicle shipping via RoRo and container. Directly comparable to AB Plant on the commercial vehicle, RoRo, and door-to-door segment of its business.
• deBridge Shipping: UK-based specialist freight forwarder focused on international vehicle and machinery shipping with door-to-door service. Direct competitor to AB Plant in the same UK-to-worldwide vehicle and plant forwarding niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/abplantshipping

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 AB Plant Shipping Ltd