Atlantic Forwarding SA
Atlantic Forwarding SA is a Cape Town–based freight forwarding company with a history rooted in the Western Cape logistics sector. Originating from a 2002 merger that formed Atlantic Forwarding Cape (Pty) Ltd, the business has positioned itself as a niche player offering global import and export forwarding along with domestic and cross-border transport. The firm emphasizes acting as an extension of the customer’s management team, delivering professional, cost-effective services while building long-term alliances with clients to help them meet their objectives.
Core operations highlighted in both the original profile and ongoing website content include a structured approach to international trade, with a focus on timeous delivery, cost control, and predictable performance. The company regularly reviews performance against defined quality standards and policies designed to mitigate common risks encountered in cross-border logistics. A recurring theme across materials is the aim to provide transparent communication with clients, suppliers, and other stakeholders in the logistics chain, thereby supporting smoother import and export flows.
Service lines cover both air and sea freight for imports and exports. Airfreight imports are described as a workflow that begins with purchase order setup and monitoring, continuing through customs clearance in South Africa and culminating in delivery to the client. Sea freight imports similarly cover full container loads (FCL), less-than-container loads (LCL), and break-bulk shipments, with close attention to delivery timelines, landed costs, documentation, and ongoing communication. In exports, the firm pledges to collaborate through the handover process to help clients maintain a competitive edge in terms of delivery time and cost efficiency, including documentation and customer communication.
Beyond transportation, Atlantic Forwarding SA offers international trade consulting. This involves analyzing freight files to address complex legal, risk, cost, and time implications associated with cross-border movement. An estimating and landed-cost capability is described, enabling clients to anticipate costs in advance and to price landed items accurately as part of the import clearance process. Marine insurance is another facet of their offering, ensuring coverage aligned with the terms of the international sale contracts and handling administrative aspects of claims when necessary.
The organization underscores core principles that have sustained its operations for more than two decades, including a commitment to nurturing a positive corporate culture, delivering consistent customer service excellence, and embracing change as a driver of efficiency and growth. The emphasis on ethical conduct, integrity, and accountability is presented as foundational to client trust and long-term partnerships. While the materials do not provide exhaustive detail on every service, they clearly map a holistic freight-forwarding capability that spans air and sea transport, customs clearance, and value-added support for international trade.
As part of its client-facing ethos, Atlantic Forwarding SA highlights a customer-centric service model characterized by dedicated support staff, a focus on minimizing emissions and adopting sustainable practices, and a belief in empowering the team to deliver superior service. The company also positions itself as a proactive partner in logistics optimization, seeking to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and mitigate risks for importers and exporters operating in Southern Africa and beyond.
In sum, Atlantic Forwarding SA presents itself as an experienced, Cape Town–based freight forwarder with more than 20 years of industry engagement, offering core air and sea freight capabilities, customs clearance, and international trade consulting, underpinned by a culture of quality, ethics, and client-focused collaboration.
