3 Forwarders to watch in 2022

Forwarders are continuing to show innovative ways to navigate the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and a few that were not included in Air Cargo World’s latest Power 25 ranking are nevertheless worth keeping an eye on. In 2022, tonnage from the Power 25 forwarders ranged from 2,2200,000 tonnes to 239,400 tonnes. [caption id="attachment_98098" align="alignright" width="512"] AIT opens new West Coast headquarters. Photo courtesy of AIT.[/caption] With strategies that range from utilizing acquisitions to bolster growth and expansion to increasing charter operations or overall elevated sales and tonnage, here are three forwarders to watch in 2022 that have implemented creative roadmaps for growth in the past year: AIT Worldwide Logistics : Illinois-based AIT Worldwide Logistics has been making strategic moves, including acquisitions, to significantly grow its network and expand its reach over the past two years. In fact, the forwarder recapitalized in 2021 with The Jordan Company with the explicit goal of expanding organically as well as focusing on acquisition. The forwarder handled at least 97,628 tonnes of airfreight in 2021, an AIT spokesperson told Air Cargo World . They further noted that the forwarder’s gross revenue increased by more than 85% year over year. “Global air freight is a significant mode for AIT and many of our customers shifted their shipments to air last year due to pricing and capacity issues on the ocean side,” the spokesperson said. “We also flew a large number of exclusive charters to help meet our customers’ needs in 2021.” AIT also acquired three companies in 2021, including Texas-based Intelligent Logistics in August . That acquisition was aimed at aiding the forwarder’s U.S.-Mexico cross-border growth plans, AIT Executive Chairman and CEO Vaughn Moore said at the time. AIT’s various acquisitions have allowed it to expand into new verticals, such as pharma. For instance, in August 2021 AIT expanded into pharma ops with an office in Biberach, Germany . The facility comprises 600 square meters of office and warehouse space, adding to the forwarder’s footprint in Germany, which includes offices in Frankfurt, Bremen, Greven and Stuttgart, gained through its acquisition of Feige Forwarding in 2020. Looking forward, AIT aims to expand into home delivery with its acquisition of Select Express Logistics in November 2021 . AIT is also expanding organically, and this year opened a new office in Mumbai and Delhi, with more locations planned to open later in 2022. Watch : AIT Worldwide on e-commerce logistics, M&A Maersk Logistics : Barely missing this year’s Power 25 list is the Danish Maersk Logistics which handled roughly 173,648 tonnes of cargo in 2021. “Our growth is very much driven by our strong corridors where China plays a dominant role. On top of that, we see markets such as Vietnam and India gaining more and more importance,” Ferwin Wieringa, global head of airfreight at Maersk, told Air Cargo World . Maersk saw an uptick in different segments, including e-commerce and personal protection equipment (PPE). Supply and demand challenges, primarily driven by COVID-19 disruptions, created a strong need for charter flights due to the lack of available aircraft, Wieringa noted. At one point, Maersk moved more than 60 charters in just a few weeks’ time, he said. The company has been significantly expanding its operational footprint, particularly in North America, and its e-commerce capabilities. In addition to launching Maersk Air Cargo in April , the company announced in May plans to build a distribution center near Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to serve the growing e-commerce demand. The 568,000-square-foot facility is expected to open in November. Throughout 2021 Maersk acquired six more businesses within the e-commerce, air, warehousing and fulfillment sectors, including Germany-based forwarder Senator International in November , which officially closed this month. More recently in February Maersk announced its intention to acquire U.S.-based logistics company Pilot Freight Services in a $1.7 billion deal to further grow its e-commerce services and North American footprint. Through acquisitions, Maersk aims to have roughly one-third of its annual tonnage carried within its own freight network through both owned and leased aircraft, according to a June 6 release. See also : Ocean shipping lines: A disruptive force in air freight transport and forwarding Logwin : Luxembourg-based Logwin also barely missed this year's Power 25 ranking, coming in at 182,000 tonnes in 2021. Logwin’s network spans across 190 locations in roughly 36 countries and operates around 500,000 square meters of storage space globally, according to the company’s website. The forwarder handles a variety of cargo, including automotive, chemical, electronic, retail and fashion-related shipments. Like all logistics companies, Logwin’s fiscal year 2021 was characterized by the pandemic and the resulting capacity strains in both air and ocean freight. Despite these challenges, Logwin succeeded 2020 in both sales and earnings, according to a 2021 earnings report. In 2021 Logwin’s Air + Ocean segment sales reached 1,517 million euros (USD $1.5 million), up 92% YoY due to high freight rates and increased volumes, according to the report. Logwin’s growth has continued into 2022, with overall Q1 sales up 61.5% YoY, according to a recent fiscal report. The Air + Ocean business specifically generated 471.9 million euros (USD $490 million), again due to high rates. “The overall economic recovery had a positive effect on the Logwin Group in the first quarter due to catch-up effects with capacities remaining tight,” Logwin reported. The forwarder was unavailable for comment ahead of publication. See also: The power 25: Top forwarders triumph in a year of adversity The Power 25 for 2022

3 Forwarders to watch in 2022

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