“We are applying innovative approaches to our processes.”
Euroturk Freight, with its headquarters in the UK, also serves in three different locations in Turkey: Istanbul, Bursa, and Izmir. The company managed to increase its net profit by 120% in the first quarter of 2023. M. Evren Baturalp, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Euroturk Group of Companies, says, “We follow technological developments and apply innovative and creative approaches to our processes.”
Euro Freight is a logistics company that provides top-level and quality service logistics flow of interest in Turkey and Europe, with its headquarters in the UK. Its main services include international freight forwarding, UK and Ireland customs clearance services, transit trade, and international transportation between European countries with air and sea (FCL&LCL) consolidations. The company serves in three different locations in Turkey: Istanbul, Bursa, and Izmir, along with its UK headquarters. M. Evren Baturalp, Chairman of the Euroturk Group of Companies, says, “In addition to being experienced in every area of domestic and international transportation, since 2000 we have been providing services in the UK in customs, transit operations (T1/T2), import/export transportation, and warehousing. We aim to ensure continuous system development by following technological advancements and implementing innovative and creative approaches to our processes, as well as by keeping up with management system standards and legal regulations, and by engaging all our employers, our happy employees, and relevant parties in our management systems.” Baturalp states that the industry has healed the wounds of the pandemic in 2023 and adds, “Our net profitability for the first quarter of 2023 increased by 120% in foreign currency terms compared to the same period of the previous year.” M. Evren Baturalp, Chairman of the Euroturk Group of Companies, answered our questions as follows:
How is the year 2023 going?
2023 is a year in which the logistics sector has healed from the pandemic and gained momentum. The growing trade volume between Turkey and European countries and the change in customs status with the UK’s departure from the European Union after Brexit have positioned us very differently in the industry. Being the first and only Turkish-origin logistics company to have the AEO certificate approved by the UK official authorities and having authorized status at all ports in this country forms the basis of this difference. This situation has positively affected our growth ratios over the years. After the pandemic, our company achieved a 300% growth with vehicle investments in the transportation side between 2020 and 2022. Our net profitability in the first quarter of 2023 increased by 120% in foreign currency terms compared to the same period of the previous year. Considering that all these figures are adjusted for inflation and that the logistics sector has shown a 17% increase in foreign currency terms according to the CBRT data for the same period, I can comfortably say that we have achieved above-average growth in the sector. This growth is driving us to invest and provide services in different countries. Therefore, our efforts to obtain a full customs clearance certificate in Ireland outside of the United Kingdom have been successful in 2023. In Ireland, we are providing services at an international level to both Turkish and European transport and forwarding companies as well as export and import firms, with the Euroturk guarantee for customs and transit operations.
How has digitalization in different business lines changed consumer expectations?
What are you doing to respond to these new expectations and needs? We are aware that technological advancements are inevitable for the logistics sector. The innovative developments we offer to our customers for on-time delivery and the ability to track their products are one of the most important factors in our growth. Additionally, the fact that customs operations in the UK and Ireland are conducted digitally only and the services we offer in this area are the biggest proof of how advanced our technological infrastructure is. Furthermore, our fleet’s tractors and trailers are supported with the latest technological alarm systems and we have been able to prevent illegal immigration in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). We are also continuing our R&D efforts at full speed regarding autonomous driving.
What are the most important items on your investment agenda?
We evaluate our investments more in innovative areas and customs fields. With our warehouse areas that we plan to implement at Turkey’s border gates, we aim to be more effective in customs areas. We have a fully authorized customs area that we plan to implement in Ireland soon. In the field of innovation, we have ERP systems that minimize human error factors in customs operations. According to our R&D planning, we plan to actively implement automation processes at every point of international transportation. With both the AEO certification approved by the UK Customs Ministry and our authorized obligator certificate approved by the Turkish authorities, we offer fast, proactive solutions. In line with our growth targets, we do not want to remain indifferent to the developing Asian market. For this reason, we continue our efforts to