CEVA Logistics has launched a large-scale expansion plan for the African market with the goal to become a leading, continent-wide player. As a first step, the freight forwarder has acquired local logistics expert AMI Worldwide, which sees the company expand its presence into 12 African countries and strengthen its team with 1,000 employees.  

Effective July 1st, the AMI Worldwide office network in 12 countries in East and Southern Africa and its almost 1,000 employees will join the CEVA global network.

With the acquisition, CEVA hopes to profit from the growth prospects of the African countries. The new offices “will provide a platform for further investment and expansion throughout the continent, with the objective of offering CEVA’s customers a seamless network, facilitating cargo movement within Africa and strengthening trade ties with the rest of the world”, the freight forwarder states.

The takeover is part of a larger business expansion plan which will also see CEVA Logistics integrate three CMA CGM Inland Services facilities and open its own new operations.

It concerns the CMA CGM Inland Services in Mali, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. “These intermodal sites provide a launch platform for the company’s freight management ambitions. They offer freight forwarding services in addition to their full range of inland solutions related to container fleet management and ocean freight value-added services such as reefer management services, stuffing and de-stuffing of containers, dry port and container depot functions”, states CEVA, adding that these facilities will keep their close relationship with parent company CMA CGM.

Lastly, CEVA is also expanding its own presence in Africa with a new office in Mauritania for transit corridor operations, and in Ethiopia, where a new joint venture with MACFAA will be integrated into the CEVA network once all regulatory approvals are obtained.

Single brand

With these new strategic investments, CEVA is greatly expanding its capabilities in Africa. Once all new businesses are finalized, the freight forwarder will own 79 offices in 41 countries and employ 1,300 employees on the continent.

“Businesses across the African continent enjoy significant growth prospects and logistics solutions are crucial to materializing these opportunities, by ensuring supply chains work well and trade flows run smoothly”, CEVA CEO Mathieu Friedberg explains the investment decision.

“With our strategic, continental expansion plan, CEVA will play an integral part in supporting the continent’s socio-economic emergence, offering our customers our full range of tailored, innovative solutions along with our recognized expertise and our operational excellence. In so doing, we aim to become a leading, continent-wide market player. From December 2020, CEVA Logistics will become the single brand representing all our activities in Africa”, he adds.

The company did not disclose financial details of the AMI Worldwide acquisition.