World Transport Overseas (WTO) is one of the fastest-growing logistics companies in Eastern Europe with its own subsidiaries in Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Taiwan.
Maria Georgiou is the managing director of WTO Hellas and spoke to Container News about the company’s recent developments, expansion plans and special services.
Additionally, she expressed her opinion and views about the current challenges in the container shipping sector, pointed out WTO’s targets for the Greek market and the company’s vision for the next years.
– What are the main services that WTO provides its customers with?
WTO offers a variety of services related to the logistics industry such as:
- Full Container Load
- Less Container Load
- Airfreight Transport
- Inland Transportation
- Customs representation
- Cargo Insurance
- Warehousing and distribution
– Which are the main markets that WTO is targeting?
WTO covers origins/destinations all over the world and has a strong presence in the Far East (full container load, FCL and Less than Container-Load, LCL), as well as in the Middle East, United States and Latin America.
– What are the key services that WTO Hellas is offering?
WTO Hellas, as well mentioned above, offers all services which are attached to goods transportation (dry, IMO, OOG cargo). Our core part of the business is full and less container loads from the Far East, making our company during the last two years of operations a well-recognised name among freight forwarding companies in Greece.
WTO is a market leader in Balkans when it comes to groupage cargo ex Far East.
– What makes WTO Hellas stand out from the competition?
As our motto says, “You ship, we care!!!”. So our differentiator point is that every single member of WTO Hellas from sales to customer service, operation and accounting department offers second-to-none services in order our clientele to enjoy a smooth and seamless transportation experience.
Many companies in our industry can move cargo but very limited can make it happen the most professional and accurate way like WTO Hellas.
– How do you see the Greek shipping market? Are there any specific characteristics? Are there any special challenges that you face?
Generally speaking, 2023 is so far better than initially predicted. However, the economic crisis still persists and continues to trouble the Greek buying public which ultimately affects logistic companies as well.
From the time back a year ago, when US$12,000-13,000 were needed to transport a 40’ft container from China to Greece, we have come to the opposite side with the cost for the corresponding transport not exceeding US$1,500-2,000.
Actually, this is right now one of the main challenges, i.e all transport companies in their effort to attract cargo, reduce the transport rates which, as a result, has driven to shrunken profitability of the companies.
– What is your vision for the next years regarding the Greek market, as well as the global one?
Our vision during the coming years in WTO Hellas is to maintain the high quality of services, that we presently offer, and be a local market leader in transport and logistics. We want to offer our clients and personnel a sustainable and healthy working environment.
Our vision in WTO Group is to continue growing and establishing our offices in regions/countries like:
- Austria – Vienna
- Hungary – Budapest
- US – New York and Chicago
- Bosnia – Sarajevo
