Executing a significant portion of its transport operations between Türkiye and Ukraine and Russia, Almark Logistics has activated Plan B due to the conflicts between the two countries and the shutdown of the Odessa Port. Onur Güvenler, General Manager of the company, stated that they managed the situation successfully and increased their transportation performance compared to the previous year.
Offering integrated logistics solutions between türkiye and Russia, Ukraine, Baltic and CIS countries, Almark Logistics has implemented “Plan B” after the shutdown of Odessa Port, where the majority of its transportation is carried out, due to the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Onur Güvenler, General Manager of Almark Logistics, stated that they conducted a substantially important part of their international transportation to such 2 countries through the Odessa Port prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Reminding that foreign trade and international transportation came to a standstill in Russia and Ukraine after the war, Güvenler stated that they started multimodal transportation between Türkiye and Greece via RoRo vessels between Pendik and Patras Ports.
“We neither stopped during the war nor let our customers down”
Emphasizing that they manage all their logistics processes with a backup plan, Güvenler underlined that their Plan B was ready before the war on the Russian and Ukrainian lines. Güvenler said, “Thanks to our offices and colleagues in these countries, we evaluated the situation really well. We had already predicted how the tension would play out. Although our operations were disrupted in the first 1-2 months of the war, we recovered quickly afterwards. We started to carry out our transportation by road, and our offices in the countries continued their activities. By means of our self-owned fleet of vehicles and equipment, our expert staff and our strong logistics infrastructure in such countries, we were able to put our alternative plans into operation faster.”
“Reminding that the Port of Odessa is still closed due to the conflicts and that only ships loaded with grain are currently allowed to leave, Güvenler said, “”Whether there is a war or an epidemic, logistics does not stop. If logistics stops, so does life. That is why, despite the post-war difficulties, we use alternative routes and land routes to reach Russia and Ukraine. We have not let our customers down, our import-export flights continue.”
“We gain competitive advantage thanks to our equipment inventory”
Stating that they continue their operations with the advantage of possessing the largest 45′ container fleet in Türkiye along with the group companies, Güvenler said that they serve the chemical-petrochemical, textile, food, FMCG, electronics and automotive industries via standard / mega tilt trailers and swap bodies as well as 45′ containers, and that they transport liquid products, including flammable and combustible ones, to the destination with ISO tanks.
Full and partial transportation services to Russia and Ukraine continue
Güvenler stated that they organize full load shipping to Russia and Ukraine 7 days a week and stated, “With this service, we carry import-export cargoes in a single vehicle without transferring along the route. We deliver our cargoes quickly, safely and at the most ideal freight rates.”
Güvenler said that they consolidate partial loads in their warehouses in Istanbul and transport such with self-owned vehicles. Güvenler stated that they can make door-to-door deliveries to Russia and Ukraine with regular partial departures on Wednesdays and Fridays and added: “In our partial service, we offer solutions reducing unit cost and focus on prompt delivery.”
Transit transportation from Europe to the Commonwealth of Independent States
Stating that they also carry out third country transportation between European countries and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Güvenler emphasized that they conduct transportation to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan using different modes of transportation on such routes.