Today, Ahlers has 17 offices in Asia (Singapore, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, India, Bangladesh & Vietnam) and believes strongly in the growth of the region, regardless the temporary downturn. Ahlers Asia Pte Ltd. (Singapore) offers transhipment possibilities to its European based customers for cargoes destined for South East Asia.
With the long-term experience in breakbulk cargoes and the local market expertise, it also acquired a place in the circle of project freight forwarders in Singapore, offering regular sailings for breakbulk cargoes to India and the Middle East. Next to that, the company built up an agency portfolio of niche carriers. Shippers in Asia can now depend on the expertise and market knowledge of the niche carriers serving 'difficult' markets like West Africa, North Africa and the Caribbean.
Carriers represented are Nile Dutch Africa Line, the biggest carrier to Angola and serving also Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Gabon and Congo, Brointermed Lines Ltd., the number one carrier to Libya & Algeria, Portline, niche carrier to Bissau, Empros Lines, conventional service to all Greek and Turkish ports, Universal Africa Lines, project carrier to Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, NIRINT, niche carrier to Cuba and Europe West Indies Lines, the specialist carrier to Central America and the Caribbean.
A market study is currently conducted to set up a service between Asia and Northern Europe (Scandinavia, including Iceland) and the Baltic States / CIS countries. The service will be developed together with the niche carrier Samskip, which has its roots in Iceland and is an important player in the reefer market.
Last month, Ahlers Asia Pte Ltd celebrated its 5 years anniversary. The function was held in the East India Rooms of the historic Raffles Hotel, a landmark and one of the most important historical sites in Singapore.
On this occasion, customers were invited and given also the opportunity to meet some of our principals. Mr. Harry Veldman (NDS) who was on his way from Rotterdam to Durban, made a stop over in Singapore on the occasion. Some of the guests can be seen on the pictures, including representatives of our agent in the UK, Holland and Malaysia.