Latest update: Current loading restrictions in Europe due to Covid-19

Supporting Africa’s logistics needs with bulk ocean freight

Before sea freight containers took over sixty years ago, break bulk was the main form of moving cargo. Roughly 90% of all goods worldwide are still shipped by sea, of which 70% is now containerised cargo. Break bulk sea freight however still makes up a significant segment of transportation and has several advantages for clients, whether by air or sea freight, says Detlev Duve, managing director of Dachser South Africa.

Globally, logistics leader Dachser has undertaken many complex break bulk shipments. Due to Africa’s economic reliance on the extraction of natural resources, logistics operators in Africa will often be required to facilitate the movement of large machinery and parts.

Break bulk is where items are not transported in containers, but carried in units such as pallets, bags, drums or crates, or as larger non-unitised cargo. Cargo can be moved in smaller units, and it allows goods to enter less developed ports that are not set up for loading and unloading containers. Break bulk would also be used for hazardous materials, as they have to stay separate.

Name change in Hungary after joint venture takeover

Since June 1, 2024, the former company Liegl & DACHSER continues its logistics activities under the name DACHSER Hungary comprising the business fields Air & Sea Logistics and Road Logistics with its business lines European Logistics and Food Logistics. This administrative step is the last step in closing the acquisition, which took place in December 2022: the German logistics service provider then bought the former co-owner's remaining 50% stake in the companies.

Statement by Dachser CEO Burkhard Eling on the military conflict in Ukraine

Peace and the free movement of goods are fundamental prerequisites for the positive, free development of all societies. In this spirit, Dachser has grown as an international logistics provider over the past decades. We therefore deeply regret the escalation of the military conflict in Ukraine. Among other things, the conflict will also have a substantial impact on supply chains in Eastern Europe. 

Our first priority is the safety of all drivers transporting consignments on behalf of Dachser. We have therefore today imposed an immediate takeover and loading stop for all shipments to Ukraine. This applies to all European transports of our Cargoplus service segment, which specializes in FTL and LTL transports to the CIS countries, among others, as well as to all transports from the European Logistics network that are handled in Ukraine by our partner ACE. Regular traffic from our platform Strykow (Poland) to Kiev will be discontinued. All trucks that are currently still on their way to Ukraine have to be returned in coordination with the customers. We are in close contact with our Ukrainian partner, who has also closed his warehouses.

In air freight, the airspace over Ukraine has been closed in a wide radius. Take-offs and landings are not possible here, so that congestion at the alternative airports is to be feared. 

Our European Logistics and Air & Sea Logistics teams are closely monitoring developments in the situation and are in close contact with our customers. This also applies in particular to restrictions on the movement of goods that may arise in the coming days as a result of the sanctions announced against Russia.

  Dachser's activities in Ukraine and Russia.

Dachser does not have its own locations in Ukraine, but works there with its partner ACE Logistics. The Estonian company is also Dachser's partner for the Baltic states and joint venture partner in Finland. The Cargoplus service segment handles additional full truckload services.

In Russia, Dachser has been represented by its own national company since 2008 and provides services in the Road Logistics and Air & Sea Logistics business segments. Around 160 staff are employed at seven locations. In 2020, Dachser Russia handled around 17,000 consignments and generated revenue of EUR 21.6 million.