3PL news: MIQ expands EMEA reach with new LCL service offering

Global third-party logistics (3PL) services provider MIQ Logistics recently announced that it has bolstered its EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) presence through an initiative centered on providing less-than-container (LCL) consolidation services from Istanbul, Turkey to New York.

MIQ officials said that through a partnership with its agent, INCI Lojistik, it collects LCL shipments from any point in Turkey and several Eastern Europe points and then consolidates the freight in Istanbul before transporting it directly to New York for deconsolidation and final delivery. They added that this service can be utilized independently or as a comprehensive end-to-end solution along with warehousing, customs brokerage, global trade management and transportation to the final destination.

“Utilizing weekly direct sailings from Istanbul, customers can count on fast, reliable ocean transit times all while leveraging FCL shipping pricing,” sais Michael Collins, MIQ Logistics Senior Vice President of Global Operations, in a statement.

An MIQ spokesperson told LM the expansion of services offered in Turkey complements the company’s strategic vision, focus on market verticals and aggressive growth targets. Major components of this vision cited by the spokesperson include:
-Strategic focus—The EU-Turkey Customs Union and Turkey’s substantial foreign direct investment in central and eastern Europe, especially it’s Black Sea neighbors, Bulgaria and Romania, together with the comprehensive INCI Lojistik network and infrastructure serving the region, substantially advance MIQ’s EMEA strategy;
-Market vertical—Turkey is one of the world’s newly industrialized countries and among the world’s leading producers of textiles; motor vehicles, and other transportation equipment; consumer electronics and home appliances, all of which are core market verticals for MIQ Logistics; and
-Growth targets—Turkey is positioned for a rapid economic growth and MIQ’s enhanced presence allows the company to take part in that expansion along with its customers.

When asked what the main benefits of this new service are for shippers, the spokesperson said stable weekly sailings, reduced transit times, improved control and visibility with in-house consolidation operations, exceptional customer service MIQ Logistics, value added services and access to MIQ’s entire service portfolio.

“MIQ Logistics is enhancing its ability to provide fully integrated end to end supply chain management solutions to our customers,” the spokesperson said. “With the growing complexity of managing all supply chain activities, flexible origin solutions are a necessity to fulfill our commitment to improving our customers’ overall supply chain performance.”