Azkar Overseas

Brief history

Azkar is the leading provider of international distribution, transportation and logistics services based in the Iberian Peninsula, Balearic and Canary Islands. Azkar’s history dates back to 1933, when the company began transporting heavy industrial materials between the Basque Country and Barcelona, Spain.

Over the next several decades Azkar underwent tremendous growth and by the 1980s the company had become a major distribution and transportation player with full national coverage in Spain. In early 1990s the company expanded further through a series of acquisitions, as well as increasing the number of branches within its established network. In 1995 Azkar started to provide contract logistics services and in 1997 became an international operator with the opening of Azkar Portugal.

With the turn of the new millennium Azkar has continued to expand its international network of services while solidifying its market leading position in Spain and Portugal. In keeping with its desire to be at the forefront of the industry worldwide, in 2006 Azkar opened a coordinating office in Shanghai, China, which offers a comprehensive array of international sea and air freight forwarding operations.

In addition, Azkar has acquired an airport ground handling company ACL, thus further expanding the range of services that the group offers, as well as entering the market of airport ground handling. Azkar continues implementing its growth strategy in the areas of air and sea freight, distribution and logistics through making selective acquisitions.

Main numbers

Facilities:

• 91 facilities in Spain and Portugal:
  • 56 distribution centers
  • 27 logistics platforms
  • 5 overland platforms
  • 2 FTL platforms
  • 1 airport ground handling platform
• Office in Shanghai, China

Fleet: over 2,600 vehicles

Staff: more than 3,200 personnel

Revenues 2009: 369 million euros