Panalpina's President & CEO paid a visit to Amit Ltd. on her first visit to Israel

Monika Ribar: Panalpina reacted very quickly to the increasing demand in Israel for regular and seamless end-to-end LCL services and the growing customer base
 
Monika Ribar, Panalpina group President & CEO, paid recently a short visit to Amit Ltd. Panalpina's sole agent in Israel for the last 47 years.
 
The Panalpina group with its head office in Basel / Switzerland is one of the world’s leading suppliers of forwarding and logistics services, specializing in end-to-end supply chain management solutions and intercontinental air freight and ocean freight shipments. The Panalpina Group operates a close-knit network with some 500 branches in more than 80 countries. In a further 80 countries, it cooperates closely with partner companies. Panalpina employs about 14,000 people worldwide.
 
In the second quarter of 2010, the Panalpina Group posted substantial growth in forwarding volumes in both air freight (+36%) and ocean freight (+19%), gaining market share in both segments. At the same time, the company increased profitability per freightunit quarter-on-quarter and was able to keep costs tightly under control. Revenues for the period were CHF 360 million.
 
In an interview to the PORT2PORT magazine Mrs. Ribar noted that Panalpina regards Amit not only as a strategic partner but also as an integral part of the Panalpina group. Mrs Ribar emphasized that the bilateral business relations with Amit are strong and highly beneficial. Mrs. Ribar also noted that in so far as new services to the Israeli market, Panalpina reacted very quickly to the increasing demand in Israel for regular and seamless end-to-end LCL services and the growing customer base on the trade lane between Asia and Israel. Panalpina now offers guaranteed weekly departures from Hong Kong (18 days), Yantian (17 days), Ningbo (21 days) and Shanghai (22 days). The new services enhance Panalpina’s already comprehensive LCL network within Asia-Pacific whichincludes some 50 origins served via the existing mega-hub in Singapore.
 
Asked about a possibility that Panalpina would consider merging with another company or acquisition of a company, Mrs. Ribar noted that in contrast with other economic sectors the global logistic sector is still divided among very large number of small andmedium size companies.  There are logistic companies of various sizes capable to survive in present market conditions.
 
Mrs. Ribar noted however that global players like DHL, DB Schenker and Kuehne & Nagel have all made several acquisitions.
 
Mrs. Ribar noted that for many years Panalpina was rated number one in air freight and number two in sea freight. Traditionally the company has preferred an organic growth policy but nevertheless the company is still rated at the top five companies among global players.
 
"Despite our natural growth policy we are constantly examining taking over a company which could strengthen Panalpina. We are interested to keep our leading position and therefore there is a possibility that we will buy a company which will provide us witha better geographical coverage or with special know-how. We have no interest to take over a company for the sake of getting bigger. We look forward and are willing to strengthen our weak areas."
 
AMIT, one of Israel's leading forwarding, clearing and logistics groups, was established in 1952. The company's head-office is located in Tel-Aviv with branches at Ben-Gurion Airport and at the seaports of Ashdod, Haifa and Eilat, as well as in the Centralcustoms house. The company is ISO 9002 qualified, and has membership in I.A.T.A., F.I.A.T.A, IFFCCA (The Israeli Federation of Forwarders and customs Clearing Agents) and I.E.L.A. (International Exhibition Logistics Associates).