Turkish logistics provider Ekol has added Poland to the growing list of European countries in which it has operations. The company, which started operations from Katowice last month and has a number of automotive customers in the country already, said that it would be providing domestic and international transport across all modes along with customs clearance, contract logistics and warehouse services.
“We will develop transport services for automotive not only between Poland and Turkey, but between Poland and other European countries as well,” confirmed a spokesperson for the company.
Ekol said it aims to have a turnover in Poland of €15m ($16.7m) by the end of 2016 according Wojciech Brzuska, general manager, Ekol International.
"Poland occupies an important position on the logistics map of Europe,” said Brzuska. “We see more and more companies finding a hub in Poland, for the Central and East European countries.”
Brzuska added that, along with a growth in trade between the two countries, Poland’s importance as logistics hub had influenced Ekol’s decision to set up its own operation there.
“Modern intermodal solutions coupled with warehousing and customs clearance services are in demand in our market so I am sure the presence of such an experienced logistics operator as Ekol in the Polish market will be beneficial for our economy," said Artur Pohl, country manager for Poland at Ekol. "We are planning to have daily rail services connecting Western Europe with Poland in order to be able to offer intermodal solutions not only to and from Turkey but also inside Europe, especially to countries where Ekol has its subsidiaries. We will be offering one-stop shop solutions to our customers."
As well as Turkey Ekol is already present in nine countries across Europe, including Germany, Hungary Romania, Italy, France, Ukraine, Greece, Spain and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Brzuska said it planned to added the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the near future.
“We have many customers for export and import, so we can offer and provide additional services for automotive customers in Poland,” added Ekol’s spokesperson. “There are many potential business opportunities for handling with our Polish organisation. [These include] storing products to feed production, cross-docking for consolidation and distribution, as well as packaging, and materials and spare parts handling.”
Last year automotive business accounted for more than 30% of Ekol’s turnover.
