Militzer & Münch Algeria: close to the customer

Militzer & Münch Algeria: close to the customer with local experts

 

With many years of experience in the demanding markets of the region, Militzer & Münch is considered the leading specialist for transports to and from Algeria. An important unique selling point are the regular groupage services for sea freight from France to Algiers and Oran – and since late 2023 also to Béjaïa.

 Situated on the shores of the Mediterranean, Africa’s largest country is one of the most important logistics hubs in the region, with transportation infrastructure concentrated almost exclusively in the country’s fertile north, while almost 85 percent of the area is covered by the rock and sand deserts of the Sahara. Algeria is rich in natural resources – crude oil and LNG account for around 95 percent of total exports. On the other hand, many different goods are imported, including machinery, textiles, food and various other commodities.

Militzer & Münch has been active in Algeria with its own country unit since 2016, and now operates its own branches in the port cities of Algiers, Oran and Béjaïa. From these locations, the company covers the entire logistics spectrum, from sea and air freight to road haulage and value-added services such as customs clearance and consulting. Import traffic mainly comes from Western Europe or South East Asia, exports are primarily destined for West Africa and Southwest Europe.

“The logistics sector in Algeria is governed by strict laws and regulations. In addition, transport costs are high and customs procedures are lengthy, which can be quite a challenge if you are not familiar with the local conditions”, says Lamia Hani, Managing Director Militzer & Münch Algeria. “With our own local experts and a strong partner network, we can support our customers very effectively here”, she adds.

 

Focus on groupage ex France

Among the most important services provided by Militzer & Münch in Algeria are groupage transports from Marseille. For several years now, there have been two regular connections, one each from France to Algiers and Oran. In November 2023, a maritime groupage service to Béjaïa was also launched.

The port city lies around 180 kilometers east of Algiers, the capital, and is one of the most important cities in the country. Due to its location, it serves as an important hub for maritime traffic with Europe, Africa and other regions. Modern infrastructure makes the port’s processes particularly efficient and allows it to handle various types of cargo, including bulk goods and containerized freight. In addition, the port boasts a high level of security and efficient hinterland connections. From Marseille, Militzer & Münch offers a service to Béjaïa every 15 days with CMA CGM vessels. Militzer & Münch takes care of all processes, from consolidation to container loading; transit time is only five days. As there are hardly any comparable offers on this route, the service has been correspondingly well received by customers. A large proportion of the goods transported so far are destined for the food industry: food processing equipment, flavorings, food additives, packaging and so on.

In the medium term, Militzer & Münch Algeria plans to expand its market leadership on the Algeria-France route and to set up further LCL services to and from Turkey and Italy. “Algeria is a country where it never gets boring”, says Lamia Hani. “We are always happy to take on new challenges for the benefit of our customers.”

 

Trade Lane Africa: “There is always a way”

In view of the impressive economic growth in some emerging markets south of the Maghreb, Militzer & Münch is expanding its activities on the African continent. We asked Irene Pinkrah, Business Development Manager Trade Lane Greater Africa, about the special aspects of working with Africa, the challenges she and the team have to overcome, and what she likes best about her job.

Ms. Pinkrah, what are your tasks as Business Development Manager for Trade Lane Africa?

My main task is to expand and maintain business relationships with existing partners in Africa and to identify new partners for potential collaboration. I also build and maintain business relationships in Germany together with our sales team and take care of customer acquisition. And I also define marketing strategies and develop and optimize the trade lane between Germany and Africa by analyzing, planning and implementing efficient transport and logistics solutions.

How is the Militzer & Münch business developing in Africa?

We are currently in the process of developing the Sub-Sahara segment and are very optimistic. Africa has experienced significant economic growth in recent years and offers considerable development potential in some sectors. Militzer & Münch has been active in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria for many years, and is very successful in this field. We are therefore confident that we will also be successful in sub-Saharan Africa. Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria, for example, are very interesting for us.

We are currently working on establishing a partner network. Against this background, several Militzer & Münch country units, including Militzer & Münch Germany, joined the Airfreight Logistics Network for Africa (ALNA) some time ago, a strong network for airfreight to and from the African continent. With ALNA, we have access to a secure and reliable network of companies in many African countries.

In order to tap into the potential of the Ghanaian market for us, I will be attending the Supply Chain Business Forum and Exhibition in Ghana’s capital Accra this coming July. The trade fair will focus on current trends, challenges and opportunities in the supply chain sector. As Militzer & Münch is sponsoring the event, we also have the opportunity to present our products and services on site.

What are the main goods Militzer & Münch transports to and from Africa?

African countries import a variety of consumer goods, including electronics, vehicles, clothing and household appliances. The primary exports are raw materials as well as agricultural and pharmaceutical products.

What challenges have you experienced with transports to and from Africa?

Many parts of Africa have only insufficient transport infrastructure, both in terms of roads, railways and ports. This sometimes leads to bottlenecks, delays and increased transportation costs. In addition, different customs regulations, complicated documentation requirements and inefficient customs clearance procedures also complicate and delay transportation. Instability in some regions and cultural differences can also hinder transportation. But as long as we are prepared for these hurdles, there is always a way to overcome them. After all, challenging markets are our specialty.

What positions have you held at Militzer & Münch so far, and what do you like best about your work?

I have worked in operational positions in air and sea freight for over 20 years. Most recently, I worked in the export department of M&M air sea cargo GmbH in Frankfurt for 15 years. In 2022, I participated in our internal Talent Management Program, where one of our tasks was to identify promising new markets. We singled out Africa as one of the most interesting areas.

I really enjoy working for Militzer & Münch because the company is characterized by a family environment, motivated colleagues, openness and diversity. What I particularly like about my current position as Trade Lane Manager is that I can work independently. I can really make a difference here. The diverse challenges my job entails motivate me, too.

Militzer & Münch Dubai: Strong in ship supply

About five years ago, the Militzer & Münch Dubai team moved from the city’s airport to the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) at the western end of Dubai, one of the largest free trade zones in the world. The move was the result of the country unit’s strong growth, which is still ongoing: Militzer & Münch Dubai is continually expanding its range of services and its customer base is growing. The supply of ships on the water is developing into a particularly successful line of business.

At the location in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, the Militzer & Münch Dubai team focuses on the transport of ship spare parts. For some time now, there has also been an increasing demand from customers for the complete supply of ships. In addition to spare parts, this includes the delivery of further technical equipment, consumables, bonded goods, food for the crew and maintenance services. Militzer & Münch is responsible for the procurement of equipment and goods, their storage, and delivery on board the ships – even beyond the Jebel Ali Free Zone.

Growing market segment in the port of Fujairah

Thanks to the strong commitment of the Ship-Spares-team, led by Business Development Manager Kiran Kumar, the local company has seen a significant increase in orders for ship supplies at the Port of Fujairah. Located on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the port is a major hub for shipping in the Gulf region and the Fujairah Offshore Anchorage Area (FOAA) offers 133 berths for incoming vessels as well as a wide range of maritime services.

“Our aim is to offer our national and international customers an all-inclusive package with real added value in ship handling, from spare parts in transit to catering for the ship’s crew” says Anil Manath, Managing Director of Militzer & Münch Dubai.

Militzer & Münch not only handles ships moored at offshore anchorages in Fujairah but also ships in transit. For this “midstream” supply, Militzer & Münch exclusively delivered more than 200 shipments in UAE waters by using hired supply boats and made over 50 round trips in 2023 – aside from deliveries to local agent’s boats. The ships served by the Militzer & Münch Dubai team currently come mainly from international waters while passing through the OPL (outer port limits) and inner anchorages of the United Arab Emirates during bunkering and maintenance.

“The port of Fujairah has become an important location for us and we expect a further increase in the volume of orders for ship supply”, says Anil Manath. “We will continue to expand our local presence in the future so that we can provide our customers with a central one-stop-shop for the optimal handling of ships round the clock.”

M&M Kazakhstan: Lots of good reasons to celebrate

The Militzer & Münch country unit in Kazakhstan was founded in 1993. Its development is impressive: Today, M&M Kazakhstan offers its customers national and international transports on all transport routes, as well as customs clearance – and all this with great success. The team is growing, as is the customer base; the range of services is continuously expanded, and new markets are opened.

In summer 2023, around 70 employees and customers of M&M Kazakhstan came together in a restaurant in Almaty to celebrate Militzer & Münch’s 30th anniversary with a colorful entertainment program featuring live music, a dinner buffet, and cocktails. Of course, a birthday cake had to be part of the event.

Zlata Kim, Managing Director of the Kazakh country unit since 2019, has closely accompanied and driven the development of the company in recent years. “We can be very proud of what we have achieved over the past three decades,” she says. ”We offer our customers transport logistics services at the highest level. We are constantly expanding our portfolio and adapting our services to current requirements. In the field of renewable energies, we have been able to handle some impressive projects, such as the transportation of large quantities of components and modules for solar plants from China to Kazakhstan.”

There is a close trade relationship between Kazakhstan and China; the European Union, however, has recently turned into the most important economic partner. Which also applies to M&M Kazakhstan. “Rail transports play an important role here, but at the moment, truck transports from Europe are also in high demand from our customers,” says Zlata Kim.

Militzer & Münch: новая компания во Вьетнаме

Ст. Галлен, 18 декабря 2023 года: Логистическое предприятие Militzer & Münch продолжает расти в Азии: сегодня приступила к работе компания M&M Militzer & Münch Vietnam Co. Ltd. Новая компания предлагает полный спектр услуг Militzer & Münch. Особое внимание будет уделяться воздушным и морским перевозкам.

Группа Militzer & Münch реализует стратегию роста в регионе Азии / Дальнего Востока / Океании. Совсем недавно, в 2022 году, предприятие учредило новую компанию в Новой Зеландии. После Китая, Малайзии, Шри-Ланки и Новой Зеландии Вьетнам стал пятой страной в регионе, в которой у Militzer & Münch есть собственная национальная компания. Головной офис Militzer & Münch Vietnam расположен в Хошимине. Этот мегаполис на берегу Южно-Китайского моря, с населением 9 миллионов человек, является одновременно экономическим центром страны и важным для Юго-Восточной Азии транспортным узлом.

 

Большие возможности для развития

Компания Militzer & Münch ориентируется на многообещающие рынки региона и видит для компании в этой стране большой потенциал для дальнейшего роста: «За несколько лет Вьетнам превратился из одной из беднейших стран мира в страну со средним уровнем дохода», говорит Андреас Лёвенштайн, региональный директор Militzer & Münch по Азии/Дальнему Востоку. «Поэтому мы видим здесь хорошие возможности для успешного развития и укрепляем нашу сеть в регионе посредством открытия новой компании».

Компания Militzer & Münch Vietnam будет обслуживать множество различных отраслей как в сфере импорта, так и в сфере экспорта. Большая часть объема перевозок приходится на морской и воздушный транспорт. Новую национальную компанию возглавил Петер Шюпбах, ранее занимавший различные руководящие должности.

Militzer & Münch Turkey: сыгранная команда

Землетрясение, пандемия, инфляция – в 2023 году жителям Турции пришлось столкнуться со страшными катастрофами и испытаниями, кажущимися практически непреодолимыми. Но экономическая неопределенность и глобальные потрясения сотрудникам турецкой компании Militzer & Münch не в диковинку, и они знают, как с ними справляться.

В феврале этого года отдельные части Турции и Сирии подверглись мощному землетрясению. Более 56 тыс. человек погибли, многие получили ранения, потеряли членов семьи и все свое имущество. Это событие глубоко потрясло жителей Турции.

 

Помощь пострадавшим

В ответ на огромные разрушения и сложившуюся чрезвычайную ситуацию Турецкая международная ассоциация экспедиторов UTIKAD направила в район землетрясения гуманитарные грузы, а команда Militzer & Münch оказала ей этом необходимую поддержку. «В рамках этой гуманитарной миссии мы координировали перевозку крайне необходимых для пострадавших грузов двенадцатью грузовиками и полным железнодорожным составом из 32 вагонов», говорит Джем Улусой, генеральный директор Militzer & Münch в Турции. «Кроме того, совместно с филиалом компании Militzer & Münch в Базеле мы перечислили 5000 евро турецкой гуманитарной организации AHBAP».

Стихийное бедствие сильно ударило и по турецкой экономике. Около 35% промышленности страны расположено в районах, пострадавших от землетрясения. К этому следует добавить последствия пандемии коронавируса и глобальную инфляцию. В сложившейся ситуации турецкой компании Militzer & Münch приходится нелегко.

Но команда научилась действовать и успешно вести работу в условиях неопределенности. Турецкая компания группы Militzer & Münch была учреждена в 1996 году. «В то время у нас было всего семь сотрудников и один единственный филиал в Измире, управляемый одним сотрудником», говорит Джем Улусой. После того как в январе 2012 года к работе приступило новое руководство Militzer & Münch Turkey, турецкая компания начала расти. «Сегодня в нашей компании работает почти 60 человек, и, помимо головного офиса в Стамбуле, у нас есть еще три филиала в Измире, Мерсине и Бурсе, а также склад в Хадымкее и офис в аэропорту Стамбула».

Компания Militzer & Münch Turkey специализируется на перевозках промышленных грузов и является одним из лидеров на рынке проектных перевозок. Несмотря на неопределенность и трудности, команда успешно отстаивает свои, занятые в данной отрасли, позиции. Наибольшим спросом у клиентов пользуются наземные перевозки, за ними следуют, также имеющие большое значение, воздушные и морские перевозки. Основными клиентами компании являются представители текстильной промышленности, машиностроения, химической промышленности и производства строительных материалов.

«Мы доказали, что можем не только успешно работать в условиях неопределенности, но и нести свою социальную ответственность в кризисные времена», говорит Джем Улусой. «Следующим важным шагом для нас станет инвестирование в склад, чтобы предлагать клиентам еще более качественные услуги и удовлетворять растущие потребности».

Дополнительные складские площади в Марокко

Компания Militzer & Münch Morocco расширяет свою деятельность в Танжере:
2 000 м2 дополнительных складских площадей обеспечат более быструю обработку грузов в будущем.

Портовый город Танжер расположен далеко на севере Марокко, рядом с Гибралтарским проливом, всего в 30 км от материковой части Испании, и поэтому занимает стратегически чрезвычайно важное положение для грузоперевозок. На протяжении многих лет местный филиал компании Militzer & Münch является воротами в Марокко.

В настоящее время компания Militzer & Münch расширяет собственный склад за счет пристройки: 2 000 м2 дополнительных логистических площадей позволят удовлетворить растущий клиентский спрос на услуги и обеспечить еще более быструю обработку грузов: «На нашем складе в Танжере мы уже несколько лет отмечаем стабильно растущие объемы заказов», объясняет Оливьер Антониотти, генеральный директор Militzer & Münch Morocco. «Благодаря обновлению склада, мы сможем еще лучше и гибче обрабатывать дополнительные объемы перевозимых грузов».

В общей сложности площадь склада в Танжере увеличится до 5 000 м2. Торжественное открытие и ввод в эксплуатацию нового объекта запланированы на начало января 2024 года.

Militzer & Münch Eichenzell: the gateway to the Maghreb

Most of the overland transports from the Militzer & Münch branch office in Eichenzell in Eastern Hesse are bound for one or more of the Maghreb countries. This makes Eichenzell one of the most important hubs for transports to Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco.

The small township near Fulda and Frankfurt is home to the German Militzer & Münch hub for the Maghreb – and it is continuously developing. Over the last few years, the branch has experienced steady and healthy growth. “We have a clear picture of the direction we want to take in the future,” says branch manager Julian Backenstoß. “We are receiving very positive feedback from our customers for our consistently good service. As a result, we’ve been able to expand our business and also increase our staff.” Close to twenty colleagues are now attending to the needs of customers. The attached warehousing area covers around 4,500 square meters.

Consolidated freight destined for North Africa
On average, eight to ten containers leave Eichenzell every week in a southerly direction to begin their journey to North Africa: four to five semitrailers per week head to Morocco via Algeciras in Spain. Another four to five round trips per week go to Tunisia via Marseille and Genoa. The focus is on consolidated freight.
The trucks need about six to seven days to make the journey to Algeria. Multimodal shipments are completed within nine to ten days. “If time is of the essence, customers prefer the pre-carriage by truck to Marseille. If transit time is not an issue, the combination with rail is a popular choice, also because it is cheaper. The customer can save a few hundred euros and at the same time do something for the environment,” explains Lilli Macholdt, Deputy Branch Manager and Trade Lane Manager Maghreb.

More than just the Maghreb
“We have a lot of experience in organizing and carrying out transports to the Maghreb countries,” explains Julian Backenstoß. “That’s why we keep expanding our activities and recently opened a branch office in Augsburg. There, under the management of Fourat Chetoui, Trade Lane Manager Maghreb, we are currently focusing on the direct freight business to and from the Maghreb. However, we also offer overland transports to many other destinations, of course.” In addition to transports to North Africa, Militzer & Münch also handles groupage transports to Azerbaijan via Eichenzell, as well as transports to Eastern and Western Europe. Moreover, the Eichenzell branch office has been the official CargoLine Germany depot for more than ten years, acting as a hub for classic groupage pre- and on-carriage to and from Europe or within Germany.”

В Ташкент через Чанъаньский экспресс (Chang’an Express)

Пекин. Сиань является не только отправной точкой древнего Шелкового пути на востоке, но и важными воротами для международной торговли. Между тем, Центральная Азия, как пионер инициативы “Пояс и путь”, служит ориентиром для взаимосвязанной международной торговли. Железная дорога Центральной Азии расширяет внешние связи и торговлю Сианя, создавая новые возможности.

30 мая 50 TEU с телекоммуникационным оборудованием ZTE покинули Сианьский международный порт на борту Чанъаньского экспресса и отправились в Ташкент, крупнейший город Центральной Азии.

 

Преимущества Чанъаньского экспресса

Chang’an Express, новое сообщение между Китаем и Европой. Поезд следует через сухой порт Хоргос в Синьцзяне и преодолевает общее расстояние в 4 667 километров до Ташкента за десять дней. Это первый случай, когда Сианьский международный порт сотрудничает с корпорацией ZTE для запуска полноценного поезда с товарами в Центральную Азию.

“Причина, по которой мы выбрали экспресс Китай-Европа Чанъань, заключается в том, что он предлагает множество маршрутов, отличный сервис и стабильные сроки, что обеспечивает надежные гарантии своевременной доставки товаров наших клиентов. В будущем мы будем продолжать укреплять наше сотрудничество с Сианьской международной портовой зоной свободной торговли и вносить свой вклад в строительство инициативы “Пояс и путь”, – сказал в интервью Эльяр Шеркати, управляющий директор M&M China.

Militzer & Münch Romania: подъем и оптимизм, несмотря на нестабильные времена

Militzer & Münch представлена на логистическом рынке Румынии своей собственной компанией уже почти 20 лет. Основное внимание уделяется импорту и экспорту в пределах Европы, заказчики представляют, в основном, секторы промышленных товаров и одежды. Несмотря на сегодняшние факторы неопределенности, компания не только демонстрирует стабильность, но даже успешно растет.

Румынская компания, по всем признакам, успешно развивается. И это несмотря на то, что условия на рынке в настоящее время довольно сложные. Продолжающаяся война в соседней Украине, энергетический кризис и высокая инфляция создают неопределенность на рынке и не позволяют делать прогнозы.

 

Противостояние вызовам благодаря командной работе

По мнению Валентина Драгу, тот факт, что компания Militzer & Münch Romania занимает столь выгодное положение на рынке, объясняется, прежде всего, высокой мотивацией и упорным трудом ее сотрудников. «Логистическая отрасль очень динамична, необходимо действовать гибко и своевременно реагировать на текущие изменения на рынке. Я очень горжусь тем, что нам это удается даже в трудные времена. Будучи средним предприятием-поставщиком транспортных услуг, мы достойно выдерживаем конкуренцию и поэтому, в целом, смотрим в будущее с оптимизмом», говорит Драгу.

Новое местоположение, новые сотрудники: осенью прошлого года около 30 сотрудников компании Militzer & Münch Romania занимались переездом. Команда генерального директора Валентина Драгу переехала в новые, современные помещения в центре Бухареста. «Наши сотрудники-новоселы рады новым офисам и очень удобному транспортному сообщению. В будущем мы будем рады видеть у нас в команде и новые лица, в настоящее время мы ищем подкрепление», говорит Валентин Драгу.

 

Подъем в сфере дорожных и морских перевозок

В этом году актуальная геополитическая и экономическая ситуации практически не повлияли на деятельность и результаты работы компании Militzer & Münch Romania. И хотя в сфере проектных перевозок компании отмечен небольшой спад, объем автоперевозок увеличился, а в сфере морских перевозок наметился подъем.

Тем не менее, в будущем усилия Валентин Драгу и компании Militzer & Münch Romania будут сосредоточены на перевозках, которые уже доказали свою успешность для его компании: «Мы рассчитываем на то, что в следующем году торговля в Европе активизируется, и это откроет для нас много возможностей. Поэтому сейчас мы работаем над дальнейшим расширением наших перевозок и торговых отношений в этом направлении – и, надеюсь, скоро при энергичной поддержке новых членов команды!»

“Our perseverance paid off”

In December 2020, M&M Militzer & Münch Malaysia was founded. You could say: at the worst possible time. But the challenges of the pandemic did not dissuade the country unit from its ambitious plans and goals. Gopal Krishnan helped to set up the company and fought relentlessly for its success right from the start. We talked to him about the difficult initial phase and the subsequent development of Militzer & Münch Malaysia, about current projects and plans, and his wishes for the future.

Mr. Krishnan, can you describe your organization in a few words?

Militzer & Münch Malaysia is small, but extremely customer-oriented and by now very successful. Although we specialize in projects in the oil and gas sector, we are basically the right partner for any kind of transport.

Due to corona, success was late in coming. How did you experience the start-up phase?

Everything turned out quite differently than we had imagined. The start of our national company fell at a time that you would never choose voluntarily. Normal procedures that are part and parcel of setting up a company, such as opening a bank account, turned out to be a major hurdle. Everything took much longer than planned and demanded lots of dedication and patience from us. That we were still unknown in the market additionally complicated the situation, of course. For many customers, it was simply not the right time to try out a new forwarder. It was only about half a year after the actual founding that we were able to start operations.

This difficult time, how did it shape Militzer & Münch Malaysia, how did it shape you?

Our difficult start has certainly made us who we are today. Even though it was a tour de force, we were able to benefit a lot from the experience. We worked in a very disciplined and determined way, consistently keeping our costs at the lowest possible level, and going to great lengths to win orders. Our perseverance ultimately paid off: we were able to expand our network one step at a time and achieved growth.

One thing that should definitely be emphasized positively here is the support we had from the Militzer & Münch management. There was always a willing ear and a lot of understanding for all our concerns. To us, this proved that we have a reliable partner at our side, even in difficult times.

How did matters develop for Militzer & Münch Malaysia after this very bumpy start?

After the country had almost come to a standstill due to corona, there was a strong upswing from 2022 on, both on the national and the international market. Economy flourished, investments were promoted also on the part of politics, and global demand increased. Thus, for instance, global demand for rubber grew, among other things for the production of rubber gloves. As natural rubber is one of Malaysia’s important natural resources, there was enormous demand on the export market.

Militzer & Münch Malaysia also registered significant growth at this time, we gained new customers, and were able to generate a very good result for 2022, among others, due to a significant order for international project transports in the oil and gas industry. The new year also started very well for us and we are confident that we will be able to continue expanding our business successfully in 2023.

What projects and plans are currently in the pipeline at Militzer & Münch Malaysia?

With some projects, it is too early to say, but what I can say is that we will continue to expand our customer relationships in the oil and gas sector. Our core competence is handling project shipments – we want to keep leveraging this strength and position ourselves as a specialist in the Malaysian market.

And what is your wish for the future of Militzer & Münch Malaysia?

Apart from these plans regarding our projects and orders, my personal goal is to establish Militzer & Münch Malaysia as a successful brand that is not only distinguished by high performance and reliability, but equally lives values such as loyalty, integrity, and respect. We want to be an attractive and reliable employer that promotes the careers of young employees and stands for team spirit. I believe that it is ultimately these qualities that make up the “DNA” of a company, leading to success and securing the company’s future in the long term.

 

Militzer & Münch Malaysia:

The corona pandemic initially thwarted the ambitious plans of the newly founded country unit M&M Militzer & Münch Malaysia, but the team showed perseverance and gained a strong position in the logistics market (see interview). The most important facts about Militzer & Münch Malaysia at a glance:

  • 10 employees make up the Militzer & Münch Malaysia team around Managing Director Gopal Krishnan, who has been heading the country unit since its foundation in late 2020.
  • The oil and gas sector is the most important industry for Militzer & Münch Yet there are also customers from the furniture, food, high-tech and industrial goods sectors, as well as from the health care industry.
  • China is the most important trade partner, followed by Singapore, the USA, Japan and Taiwan.
  • At 70 percent, Militzer & Münch Malaysia handles most of its regular imports and exports by sea. The goods reaching Malaysia come from South Africa, Australia, Italy, and Germany.
  • International shipping companies call at three ports in Malaysia: at Port Kelang, Malaysia’s largest seaport southwest of Kuala Lumpur, and at the ports of Tanjung Pelepas and Pasir Gudang, both located in the south of the country near the border to Singapore.
  • Transit times for Militzer & Münch Malaysia shipments range from 6 days (India, Sri Lanka), and 25 to 31 days (Australia/New Zealand), to 42 to 46 days (Europe). Transpacific goods take more than 50 days to arrive at their destination.
  • Militzer & Münch Malaysia has a special relationship with Germany. The company is a member of the German-Malaysian Chamber of Commerce, and cooperates closely with M&M Germany on the local market to further intensify trade activities.
  • Where Militzer & Münch does not have its own local subsidiaries, Militzer & Münch Malaysia relies on a network of partners to serve its local customers, for example in Australia, Singapore, or South Africa.

Sri Lanka: stability in challenging times

Since it was founded in 2018, Militzer & Münch Sri Lanka has seen positive development, while also facing major challenges again and again. The team looks to the future with confidence.

Located on the west coast, the port of Colombo is Sri Lanka’s biggest container port; it is considered one of the most important logistics hubs in the region. Almost 6.9 million TEUs were handled here in 2020. Militzer & Münch Sri Lanka has its headquarters in the direct vicinity of the port. Benefiting from this central location, the Militzer & Münch country unit has successfully established itself in Sri Lanka’s logistics market over the past years. Today, it is a member of the Sri Lanka Logistics & Freight Forwarders Association (SLFFA), the association of forwarders and logistics providers.

Good results despite difficult conditions

For the year 2022, the twelve-person team again records good results. This is not to be taken for granted: beside the Corona pandemic, most recently, the ongoing economic crisis and its political consequences also affected the activities of Militzer & Münch Sri Lanka. Fuel shortages, bottlenecks in the power supply, and skyrocketing transport costs burdened the country’s logistics sector; many factories were forced to close.

“Of course, we are glad we can look back on a good year in Sri Lanka despite such adverse circumstances,” says Dilum Stembo, Managing Director of M&M Sri Lanka. “We are aware, however, that there are still challenging times ahead. We are constantly adapting to the changing circumstances so we can continue providing stable services to our customers.”

Focus on export business

In response to tighter import restrictions, Militzer & Münch Sri Lanka changed its strategy and focused on the export business. The main export goods include tea, rubber, and coconut, as well as products of the apparel industry. By concentrating on these exports, Militzer & Münch Sri Lanka was able to minimize the impact of the dollar crisis on its own activities, as exporters pay in US dollars, and shipping companies invoice in US dollars, too.

In order to reduce power consumption, electricity cuts of several hours a day can occur in Sri Lanka. To avoid a standstill of day-to-day operations during such long supply interruptions, the country unit invested in solar cells for its offices to reduce its dependence on the power grid.

These are challenging times for the country’s economy, but of course equally so for local people. “We are deeply committed to helping here,” says Andreas Löwenstein, Regional Managing Director Asia / Far East at Militzer & Münch. “In view of the high inflation, we are accommodating our employees financially.” Dilum Stembo confirms: “Not only the company as a whole but also the staff had to overcome many obstacles. We took efforts to support our staff – also emotionally. I am convinced that it has helped them at least to some degree”

Given the current situation, the course taken has proved successful for Militzer & Münch Sri Lanka, and the country unit has been able to maintain its stability. Says Andreas Löwenstein: “We plan to increase our activities to and from New Zealand, Australia, and Southeast Asia, as well as to and from the USA and Canada. We are confident we will cope well with future challenges.”

Top position in the Mediterranean area: Militzer & Münch Tunisia

The Militzer & Münch subsidiary in Tunisia was founded over 25 years ago. Today, about 100 employees work for M&M Militzer & Münch Tunisia. Their core business: road transports from and to France, Italy, and Germany.

Militzer & Münch Tunisia has its headquarters in the port city of Radès, just a few kilometers southeast of Tunis, the capital. Additional branches operate in the port cities of Sousse and Sfax, as well as at Tunis-Carthage International Airport. Air and sea transports are an integral part of the product portfolio, but the Tunisian country unit’s biggest demand is for road transports; with the customers mainly coming from the textile, automotive, raw materials, and manufacturing industries.

An expert for Tunisia’s logistics market

Saber Boussada has been Managing Director at Militzer & Münch Tunisia for almost three years; he is at home in the transport industry. He had previously held various positions at an international freight forwarding company for more than 15 years, and has been Managing Director for more than ten years now. During this time, Saber Boussada got to know the Tunisian market very well: “Tunisia is a small country, and there’s a lot of competition among logistics service providers. In our day-to-day work, we are repeatedly confronted with the intense competition in the market here, and it depends on our performance and our range of services whether we can hold our ground,” he says.

Under his leadership, the country unit has in fact been able to hold its ground very successfully so far: Militzer & Münch Tunisia has achieved a significant profit increase since he joined the company, and the team is very optimistic about the further development of Militzer & Münch Tunisia.

Passionate about logistics

“What unites all Militzer & Münch employees is the enthusiasm for fulfilling customer wishes and demands with tailor-made solutions. Delivering goods to their destinations across the widest range of distances and on international routes is our passion”, is how Saber Boussada sums it all up. “Militzer & Münch Tunisia has secured a strong position in this challenging market. I am proud of this commitment, and I am happy to be part of the Militzer & Münch family!”

Turning challenges into opportunities

Despite the fraught economic and geopolitical situation in 2022, the Militzer & Münch country in Turkey was able to close the year successfully – and the company has ambitious plans for the future.

In 2022, the Militzer & Münch team in Turkey demonstrated that difficult times also offer opportunities. The country unit had to cope with challenges such as the aftermath of the Corona pandemic, increased freight costs, and supply chain bottlenecks. Added to these were the negative development of the Turkish economy, which led to major trade imbalances, and the situation in Ukraine.

Yet the team took the right measures in time. “Thanks to our strong position in Turkey, it was easy for us to adapt to the requirements, thus turning disadvantages into opportunities,” says Ender Atat, Deputy Managing Director at Militzer & Münch Turkey. Alex Sandalcidis, Deputy Managing Director at Militzer & Münch Turkey, adds: “We defined new strategies and introduced new structures on different routes and with different transport modes so that we were able to still meet customer requirements

Militzer & Münch Turkey transports a variety of commodities, including textiles, automotive products, industrial goods, oil and gas equipment, and chemical products. Road haulage accounts for the largest percentage among the transport modes – but sea and air transports are also developing well. Thus, a few months ago, the team restructured the sea freight department in Istanbul in response to increasing requests from customers and partners. Combining carriers is becoming increasingly important, and the staff’s expertise in intermodal and multimodal solutions offers significant benefits to customers.

“Logistics is a people business, and that’s why we have started to invest more in people,” says Cem Ulusoy, Managing Director at Militzer & Münch Turkey. “Our plans for the future include personnel expansion, the reinforcement of our sales and marketing departments, more investment in overseas sales activities, and further steps to strengthen our role in intermodal and multimodal transports.

” Plans are also in place to further expand the project logistics segment and to cooperate even more intensively with the Militzer & Münch Group and overseas agents as well as with partners in those countries where Militzer & Münch is not represented.

The company will also continue investing in digitalization and, in 2023, launch a new IT-based system that will offer more transparency in planning future projects.

A strong location of high potential

Whether capacities, energy prices or personnel costs: for the airfreight industry, the Corona pandemic was not without consequences. At present, it is still virtually impossible to make any long-term plans. In times of uncertainty, however, there are also some constants – like Frankfurt Airport, which has maintained its strong position as a major cargo hub in Central Europe for many companies. Including for Militzer & Münch.

 

M&M air sea cargo GmbH has an office directly at Cargo City South, Frankfurt Airport, where 15 employees work to serve customers; and the service goes far beyond standard freight: the team primarily handles dangerous goods shipments, valuable cargo and GDP (Good Distribution Practice) compliant transports for pharmaceuticals, which are subject to specific requirements, for instance with regard to refrigeration.

Santino Hormuth has been working in the logistics industry for 15 years and has been managing the branch of M&M air sea cargo GmbH at Frankfurt Airport for just over a year. Transports according to GDP guidelines have characterized his work from the very beginning, as immediately after he joined the company, certifications in the GDP area were already taking place. “That was rather challenging for me – after all, I was familiarizing myself with the internal structures, the work processes, and my colleagues at the same time,” he recounts. “Not least thanks to the excellent cooperation on the team, we passed the certifications successfully and have since been working on boosting GDP transports as a product in our portfolio and expanding our customer base in this area.”

Special, in many ways

In 2021, the air freight volume at Frankfurt Airport was around 2.3 million tons, the highest amount of cargo handled at any German airport. Europe-wide, Frankfurt Airport is one of the ten largest airports.

Santino Hormuth appreciates his workplace and is aware of its importance: “Frankfurt Airport is a magnet for companies, an important location for science and education, and one of the biggest workplaces in Germany. It is also the Lufthansa home base and the leading cargo hub in Europe. This gives the airport a very special position also for Militzer & Münch,” he explains. “Moreover, our location directly at the airport is definitely of competitive advantage for us: we are virtually in the middle of the action, and can act fast.”

Speed is the order of the day

Speed plays a crucial role in the handling of air freight projects. In most cases, orders are urgent and need to be handled efficiently and swiftly. In this respect, Militzer & Münch benefits from its decades of experience and presence on the market, as well as from well-practiced teams. This allows for short decision-making paths with a minimum of bureaucracy – and that way, even particularly urgent transports become routine tasks. Santino Hormuth’s team regularly handles just-in-time shipments for automotive suppliers, transports engines and other parts for the air freight industry, and was recently responsible for the transport of equipment for the World Cup in Qatar from Frankfurt to Doha.

Santino Hormuth’s goal for 2023 is to further increase Militzer & Münch’s freight volume at Frankfurt Airport, the number of key accounts, and of existing customers. To this end, among other things, there are plans to restructure the sales department.

“We are still facing tense times. But in my year so far with Militzer & Münch, I have experienced how informal and at the same time professional the cooperation is here at the Frankfurt site and across all branches. Therefore, I am sure that we will successfully master this phase.”

New terminal inaugurated in Sofia

Smart, efficient, and future-oriented: on May 19, M&M Militzer & Münch BG Co. Ltd. officially inaugurated its new transshipment terminal in Sofia. The cross-docking facility is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, thus ensuring the efficient handling of general and groupage cargo. At the same time, it forms the basis for Militzer & Münch Bulgaria to continue growing in the road freight sector.

The new facility was built to fully meet the requirements of Militzer & Münch Bulgaria. Its transshipment area covers 1,800 square meters. Incoming and outgoing shipments are handled via 16 loading gates, and scanned with the latest generation industrial tablets. A high level of security is ensured; among other things, the entire facility is video-monitored by 60 cameras.

In addition, the facility offers 880 square meters of state-of-the-art office space, creating ideal working conditions for the entire administrative and road transport team of Militzer & Münch Bulgaria. From the terminal, Militzer & Münch mainly serves Germany, Italy, France, Benelux, Spain, and Northern Europe.

“With the new cross-docking facility, we intend to continue expanding in the road segment,” explains Sacho Todorov, CEO M&M Militzer & Münch BG Co. Ltd. “Thanks to modern technology, our cargo handling operations have become more digital; we are increasing efficiency and raising the quality level even further. We are thus opening up additional opportunities for our new and existing customers.”

Militzer & Münch benefits from Uzbek investments

Uzbekistan is one of the biggest cotton fiber producers worldwide. The Central Asian republic has been investing in its textile and garment industry for some years, banking on technology and know-how from abroad. The industry continues to anticipate massive expansion of capacities.

Militzer & Münch and its customers are also profiting from the investments in the textile sector. For one of the biggest textile exporters in the CIS, Militzer & Münch delivered the equipment to a new production site in the Fergana Valley. Here, in the Uchkurgan region, the exporter combined two of his factories into one plant. The Fergana Valley is famous for its thriving silk production.

For the new production site, the exporter required machinery and other equipment from Belgium, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Korea, China, India, Switzerland and Turkey. The goods traveled tens of thousands of kilometers by plane, vessel, rail or road. The total transport volume was 650 units, loaded into 150 full truck loads and 500 40-foot containers.

“The project took about one year, it was very exciting, but also challenging”

Renata Gafarova
Project Manager at Militzer & Münch Uzbekistan

The equipment comprised, among others, a complete laboratory, cotton spinning equipment, a rewinding machine, a compressor unit, weaving machinery, winding equipment, a knitting machine as well as an air conditioning system.

“The project took about one year, it was very exciting, but also challenging”, says Renata Gafarova, Project Manager at Militzer & Münch Uzbekistan. “We had to coordinate the deliveries from ten different countries very precisely, observe the different customs regulations – and match all this with the customer’s requirements. We are proud and really happy that everything worked out so well.”

Textile industry in Uzbekistan invests one billion dollar

In revenue, the textile and garment industry is the second biggest sector of Uzbekistan’s manufacturing industry, the biggest being the food, beverage and tobacco industry. All the more reason for the Uzbek government to invest in the textile industry. In 2015, the state joint stock company “O´zbekyengilsanoat” announced a development program until 2020. During this period, projects worth one billion US dollars are to be carried out in the Uzbek textile industry.

The investments offer Militzer & Münch potential for further orders. “The textile exporter is one of our biggest customers and we are proud to be working for the eight factories he operates across the entire Uzbek Republic”, says Khurshid Kasimdzhanov, Managing Director M&M Militzer & Münch Uzbekistan. “The expansion of the textile sector enables us to extend our cooperation with this customer and win new customers from the industry.”

„Our employees are our most important asset“

After more than a year of the pandemic, the Militzer & Münch Group looks back on 2020 with an overall sense of satisfaction. The results of the individual regions vary – but one thing is certain: The employees are committed to creatively mastering the small and big challenges, and to always having an open ear for their customers.

The Militzer & Münch Group’s 2020 business year was, on the whole, satisfactory. “The term ‘mixed fortunes’ sums up the past year quite well,” says Alexei Kovalenko, Chief Financial Officer TransInvest and Militzer & Münch, and spokesman of the Militzer & Münch Group Management. “Except for the spring, especially the month of April, which was marked by lots of uncertainties due to the completely new situation, the rest of the year went largely in line with our expectations.” Among others, there was positive business development in Western Europe, particularly in France and Germany, as well as in the Maghreb.

The Militzer & Münch teams in the individual countries played a substantial role in this development. “These past months have confirmed once again that employees are our most important asset,” says Alexei Kovalenko. “Besides the framework conditions imposed on us by the governments, development is closely related to the colleagues on site. In many cases, the local management did a good job of communicating the temporary and necessary measures, such as short-time work, and the teams went along with them – that was crucial in order to prevail also in the future.”

In addition, the politico-economic framework conditions in some countries were favorable, especially in France and Germany, and Militzer & Münch made use of government support. “In Germany, we experienced some tough weeks in Q2 across all business segments,” says Holger Seehusen, member of the M&M Group Management and Managing Director M&M air sea cargo GmbH. “The option of short-time work was important for the German country unit, and our team fully backed the decision.” In Central Asia, for example, there was no such form of government support, which made the situation far more difficult. There, Militzer & Münch is active in the project business, among other things – this segment however declined noticeably during the pandemic. “Central Asia has been and will be badly shaken by the pandemic,” says Alexei Kovalenko. “However, we are confident that the situation will ease again, and we are still expecting great opportunities in the project business along the new Silk Road.”

Positive signals from the industries

After minor declines, demand from automotive customers already recovered in 2020, and also in the textile and cosmetics sectors, Militzer & Münch records only minor dents in transport demand. “Especially with cosmetics and hygiene products, our expectations of an increase in demand were perhaps a bit higher than it ultimately turned out to be,” says Holger Seehusen. “A positive example is the good cooperation between the teams in China and Germany on the transport of corona protection materials.”

Asia is also benefiting from the e-commerce business, which is particularly noticeable at EMEX, the M&M courier and express service in Kazakhstan – a development that was already apparent in 2020 and continued in Q1/2021. The 1st quarter of 2021 was good in all Militzer & Münch regions, with the country units in Asia still needing to catch up more than their European counterparts.

In some regions, the signs are even pointing to growth: the former delegation in Malaysia has been turned into a full country unit as a joint venture. Militzer & Münch France has taken over ITP and ITPL, companies of the LPS Group (Logistique et Prestations de Services), to further strengthen the Maghreb business. In Vienna, Austria, Militzer & Münch has been represented by its own branch office since October 2020. And the joint venture in Serbia is also developing promisingly. “2020 was the first full year of business for the highly motivated team,” says Alexei Kovalenko. “Thanks to the good development, we decided in March 2021 to acquire the previously rented property with 10,000 square meters of warehousing and 3,000 square meters of office space in Dobanovci near Belgrade, thus giving Militzer & Münch Serbia even more space for growth.”

Ready for the extra mile

The Militzer & Münch Group has always been flexible, and the pandemic once again confirmed it. Where activities allowed, home office options were created at short notice, with both the central IT in Hof and the local IT teams contributing. Some sites relied on a rotating model, which ensured that the offices were never fully staffed.

For the sales teams, among others, however, the pandemic with its many restrictions has been a challenge. “At times, one-on-one customer contact was not possible at all, and digital-only meetings are not easy for either side – neither for forwarders nor for their customers,” says Holger Seehusen. “The creativity of the employees in approaching customers has shown that even in difficult times they are motivated to go the extra mile, to always be close to their customers and understand their needs.” And they demonstrate a great deal of flexibility: telephone conferences called at short notice across national borders and time zones go very well – proof that intensive and efficient exchange is also possible digitally.

Maintaining customer relationships is easier in pandemic times than acquiring new customers, but Militzer & Münch was already well positioned before the pandemic and was able to rely on existing contacts. Thus, the Rail segment at M&M air sea cargo GmbH, for example, developed well in cooperation with the InterRail Group. The relatively new project department in Düsseldorf also gained a foothold and completed some exciting project shipments, including on-carriage to the hinterland, within a very short period of time. In view of the positive business development, Militzer & Münch decided to join the worldwide Atlas Breakbulk Alliance (ABA) network, whose members are forwarding companies with a focus on project shipments only. Thus, participation in the Breakbulk Europe trade fair, which will hopefully take place next year, is a must.

Alexei Kovalenko, Chief Financial Officer, TransInvest and Militzer & Münch, as well as Spokesman of Militzer & Münch Group Management

Holger Seehusen, member of the Militzer & Münch Group Management and Managing Director M&M air sea cargo GmbH.

New country unit in Malaysia

The Militzer & Münch network in Southeast Asia has been expanded: Since May 10, Militzer & Münch has been operating its own country unit in Malaysia. M&M Militzer & Muench SDN BHD, as the company is officially named, focuses on worldwide air and sea freight with comprehensive services.

Militzer & Münch has already been represented in Malaysia by delegate Gopal Krishnan since 2019. He has now taken over the management of the new country unit. “We want to position ourselves in the growth market Malaysia with top quality and comprehensive services,” says Gopal Krishnan. The team’s office is located in Subang Jaya, a major city just outside the capital Kuala Lumpur, with direct connections to both Port Klang and KLIA – the country’s most important seaport and airport, respectively.

“Malaysia is one of the fastest-growing countries worldwide, and is also gaining increasing importance as a logistics hub. With the new country unit, we are making a clear commitment to the location,” explains Andreas Löwenstein, Regional Managing Director Asia / Far East. “We see great potential above all in the air and sea freight sectors, but definitely also in cross-border trucking to the neighboring countries of Singapore and Thailand. In addition, from Malaysia we aim to further expand all our activities in the ASEAN countries.”

In demand: the new route to Baku

Launched last year, already firmly established today: Militzer & Münch’s new truck route Germany – Azerbaijan is in high demand among customers. Every week, two to three groupage trucks are on their way from Eichenzell to Baku, a distance of more than 4,000 kilometers.

Militzer & Münch organizes the transports in cooperation with Nijat Shabanly, the Militzer & Münch delegate in Baku, and TP Logistik, the new local partner. “The first transports started in August 2020,” says Julian Backenstoß, Manager of the Militzer & Münch Eichenzell branch. “Since then, transport volumes have developed very positively. Our customers ship goods from all sectors, from household appliances and electrical goods to pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and products for the food industry.”

There are two options for the route to Azerbaijan: via Poland, Belarus and Russia, or via Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Georgia. The decision on which way the shipments are routed is mostly based on the current permit conditions and the political situation. While the truck is in the EU, it can take on additional cargo; the trailer or semitrailer is not sealed until it reaches the EU’s external border. On request, the Militzer & Münch customs departments in Hof or Bad Reichenhall handle customs management.

The trucks are on the road for a total of ten to 14 days each way. Upon arrival in Azerbaijan, the shipments are received at the Baku customs terminal and cleared by the consignee or their agent.