BLG Logistics

BLG Logistics Group is a German seaport and logistics enterprise headquartered in Bremen. Its roots reach back to the creation of Bremer Lagerhaus-Gesellschaft in February 1877, when 65 merchants established a warehousing company to improve the storage and trading infrastructure available to Bremen’s cotton and commodity businesses. The original operation concentrated on handling and storage rather than transportation, but its position in Bremen’s free-port system gradually connected it with railway, warehouse, grain, cold-storage, conventional cargo, roll-on/roll-off and container activities. The company’s historic development is closely tied to the ports of Bremen and Bremerhaven. It expanded from its first warehouses near the Sicherheitshafen to Europahafen in 1888 and later to additional port facilities, including the grain transport system and Weser Railway Station. Much of its infrastructure was damaged during the Second World War, after which BLG rebuilt and resumed operations under postwar occupation authorities. From the 1950s onward, it became increasingly involved in the management and operation of facilities in Bremerhaven. Investments in Neustädter Hafen, container terminals and roll-on/roll-off infrastructure positioned the group for the structural transformation of European port logistics during the 1960s through the 1980s. Competitive pressure, the recession of the early 1980s and the loss of conventional cargo associated with political and economic changes in Central and Eastern Europe exposed the limitations of a primarily local port model. BLG responded by developing higher-value logistics services. Relationships with Volkswagen and Daimler-Benz helped it enter automotive logistics, including supplier-material distribution and semi-knocked-down and completely-knocked-down vehicle programs. It also developed logistics work for industrial and trading customers, including Minolta. A major organizational change took place in 1998, when the BLG Group structure was established with Bremer Lagerhaus-Gesellschaft as general partner and BLG Logistics Group AG & Co. KG as limited partner. The limited partnership became the strategic holding structure, while operating subsidiaries and affiliates were organized around automobile, contract and container logistics. In 1999, BLG’s container business was combined with Hamburg-based Eurokai in the Eurogate joint venture, creating a significant terminal operator with activities across European and other international ports. During the 2000s and 2010s, BLG expanded its contract and automotive capabilities through acquisitions, new warehouses, vehicle-transport assets and specialized divisions. It acquired Paul Günther Logistik’s contract logistics activities in 2002, increased its stake in E.H. Harms Automobile Logistics, and later developed BLG AutoRail for rail-based vehicle transportation. Fashion logistics became a dedicated activity in 2015, followed by acquisitions including Fortagroup and Kitzinger & Co. In 2021, BLG sold most of its sea- and air-freight forwarding activities to Rhenus Air & Sea, while retaining its Bremen forwarding location. More recent activity has included a vehicle-logistics joint venture with Hyundai Glovis, a partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme, a permanent rail connection between Kelheim and Köseköy in Turkey, additional domestic vehicle-terminal capacity at Ahlhorn Airport, and a strategic partnership with COSCO related to BLG’s Bremerhaven terminal. The group operates nearly 100 locations and presents itself as an integrated logistics provider for automobile, industry, trading and port customers. Its business model combines terminal operations, vehicle logistics, contract logistics, warehousing, transport management and specialized supply-chain services rather than relying solely on express parcel delivery.

BLG Logistics originated in Bremen’s nineteenth-century port economy. In February 1877, 65 merchants founded Bremer Lagerhaus-Gesellschaft to provide more reliable warehousing and trading infrastructure for commodities such as cotton, grain, tobacco, coffee, wool and meat products. Five initial warehouses began operating in 1878 near the Sicherheitshafen. The company expanded to Europahafen in 1888 and later assumed responsibility for additional port, grain and railway facilities. Before the First World War, BLG was an important participant in the development of Bremen’s free-port infrastructure. The company faced political and economic disruption during the 1930s and 1940s. Its management changed under pressure during the Nazi seizure of power, and port labor was organized through a centralized port operating association. During the Second World War, foreign workers, prisoners of war and forced laborers were among those assigned to port operations, including work connected with BLG. Bombing destroyed the company’s administrative offices and severely damaged warehouses, silos, rail infrastructure, cranes and other port installations. After 1945, BLG rebuilt its facilities and resumed operations under a renewed permit. It restored activity in the Überseehafen and Europahafen, reopened Weser Railway Station in 1951 and expanded into cold storage. From 1953 it directed operations in several Bremerhaven facilities, including Kaiserhafen, Columbuskaje, Neuer Hafen and Verbindungshafen. Agreements with the Municipality of Bremen in 1959 and 1963 established a close relationship between the company and the city, including municipal majority ownership and financing arrangements for major infrastructure projects. The 1960s and 1970s brought large-scale port modernization. BLG participated in the construction and operation of Neustädter Hafen and Bremerhaven container terminals, while also developing roll-on/roll-off facilities, barge handling and other specialized port services. Containerization and changing vessel technology reshaped the business during the 1980s. At the same time, recession and competitive pressure reduced margins and led to workforce reductions. BLG began moving toward higher-value logistics by working with Volkswagen, Daimler-Benz and other industrial customers on component distribution and vehicle-related supply chains. The end of socialist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe reduced some conventional cargo flows and contributed to a strategic crisis. During the 1990s, management pursued a transformation from a locally focused port operator into an international logistics group. In 1998, the BLG Group structure was introduced, separating strategic holding responsibilities from operating subsidiaries. In 1999, BLG’s container operations were combined with Eurokai’s activities in the Eurogate joint venture. Expansion continued through acquisitions and specialized business development. BLG took over Paul Günther Logistik’s contract logistics activities in 2002 and acquired an initial 50 percent interest in E.H. Harms Automobile Logistics, later increasing its holding to 94 percent. A high-bay warehouse opened at Bremen’s freight village in 2003. BLG also expanded rail-based vehicle logistics through BLG AutoRail, established after the 2008 acquisition of half of CTL Car Transport Logistics. The contract division added fashion logistics in 2015 and subsequently acquired Fortagroup, Kitzinger & Co. and Arno Rosenlöcher. In 2021, BLG sold most of its sea- and air-freight forwarding business to Rhenus. Since 2022, the group has pursued further international and specialized partnerships, including cooperation with Hyundai Glovis, the United Nations World Food Programme and COSCO. By 2025, BLG operated nearly 100 locations in seven countries and remained organized around automobile, contract and container logistics. Matthias Magnor became chief executive in early 2025, succeeding Frank Dreeke.

1. 2025Leadership transition and new partnerships

   Matthias Magnor became CEO, BLG added vehicle-terminal capacity at Ahlhorn Airport and agreed a strategic COSCO partnership concerning its Bremerhaven terminal.

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2. 2023Germany–Turkey car-train service launched

   A permanent vehicle rail connection began operating between Kelheim and Köseköy in Turkey.

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3. 2022Hyundai Glovis joint venture and WFP partnership

   BLG launched a Bremerhaven vehicle-logistics joint venture with Hyundai Glovis and became a World Food Programme logistics partner.

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4. 2021Forwarding activities transferred to Rhenus

   Most of BLG’s sea- and air-freight forwarding activities were sold to Rhenus Air & Sea.

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5. 2015Fashion logistics division established

   The contract division added fashion logistics as a dedicated business area.

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6. 2008BLG AutoRail created

   BLG acquired half of CTL Car Transport Logistics, which was subsequently renamed BLG AutoRail.

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7. 2002Contract and automotive logistics expansion

   BLG acquired Paul Günther Logistik’s contract logistics activities and entered an automotive-logistics shareholding in E.H. Harms.

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8. 1999Eurogate container joint venture formed

   BLG combined its container business with Eurokai in the Eurogate joint venture.

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9. 1998BLG Group structure established

   The group reorganized into a holding structure with separate general-partner and limited-partner entities.

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10. 1971Container-terminal operations begin

    The Bremerhaven container terminals entered operation.

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11. 1968Bremerhaven container-terminal construction begins

    BLG began developing container-terminal infrastructure in Bremerhaven.

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12. 1953Operations extended to Bremerhaven

    BLG began directing operations in several Bremerhaven port facilities.

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13. 1945Postwar rebuilding begins

    Following wartime destruction, BLG received a renewed operating permit and began restoring port operations.

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14. 1929Weser Railway Station taken over

    BLG assumed responsibility for Bremen’s Weser Railway Station.

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15. 1888Expansion to Europahafen

    The company expanded its port activities to Europahafen after Bremen joined the German Customs Union.

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16. 1878First warehouses opened

    BLG placed five warehouses into operation near Bremen’s Sicherheitshafen.

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17. 1877Bremer Lagerhaus-Gesellschaft founded

    Sixty-five Bremen merchants established the company that became the foundation of BLG Logistics.

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An integrated European port and logistics provider that combines seaport infrastructure with automotive, contract, container and specialized supply-chain services. BLG is positioned around complex physical logistics and industrial flows rather than consumer parcel delivery.

• Automotive logisticsAutomotive supply-chain services

  BLG provides logistics for finished vehicles, components and supplier materials. Activities include port handling, vehicle forwarding, distribution to production plants, semi-knocked-down and completely-knocked-down programs, storage and related transport coordination. Automotive logistics became a major growth path as the company moved beyond traditional port handling.

• Contract logisticsWarehousing and distribution2002

  The contract-logistics business manages warehousing, distribution and customer-specific supply-chain operations for industrial, retail and trading customers. The division includes specialized activities such as fashion logistics and uses a network of logistics sites in Germany and other markets.

• Port and terminal logisticsSeaport services1877

  BLG operates and manages port-related logistics covering conventional cargo, containers, roll-on/roll-off movements, storage, rail interfaces and vehicle handling. Its historical base is the Bremen and Bremerhaven port system, where the group remains involved in terminal and cargo flows.

• Container logisticsContainer-terminal services1999

  BLG’s container activities include terminal operations and related port logistics. Since 1999, its container business has been associated with Eurogate, the joint venture formed with Eurokai and operating container terminals in several international port regions.

• BLG AutoRailRail vehicle logistics2008

  BLG AutoRail provides rail-based vehicle transportation using specialized rail vehicle carriers. The business grew from BLG’s 2008 investment in CTL Car Transport Logistics and supports cross-border movement of finished automobiles, including the permanent Germany–Turkey connection introduced in 2023.

• Humanitarian logistics supportEmergency logistics2022

  Through its partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme, BLG contributes logistics expertise for emergency situations. This activity extends the group’s operational capabilities beyond commercial automotive, industrial, retail and port supply chains.

• 2010SV Werder Bremen sponsorship

  Germany

  BLG became a sponsor of Bremen football club SV Werder Bremen.

  Outcome. The partnership strengthened BLG’s local visibility in its home region.

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• 2005Eisbären Bremerhaven sponsorship

  Germany

  BLG began supporting the professional basketball club Eisbären Bremerhaven around the 2005–2006 season.

  Outcome. The sponsorship is documented as an ongoing regional sports association in the reference material.

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• 2000Bremer Unternehmergespräche

  Germany

  Former BLG chief executive Detthold Aden launched a Bremen business round-table event hosted with regional economic and chamber-of-commerce institutions.

  Outcome. The event became a recurring forum for business discussions at Bremen City Hall.

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• 2025Strategic COSCO partnershipStrategy

  BLG continued to develop international relationships around its Bremerhaven terminal operations.

  What changed. The company agreed a strategic partnership with COSCO concerning BLG’s Bremerhaven terminal.

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• 2022Vehicle-logistics joint venture with Hyundai GlovisM&A

  BLG sought to strengthen its vehicle-logistics presence in Bremerhaven and deepen cooperation with an international automotive logistics specialist.

  What changed. BLG and Hyundai Glovis launched a joint venture in Bremerhaven.

  Aftermath. The partnership expanded the group’s strategic cooperation in finished-vehicle logistics.

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• 2021Sale of most forwarding activitiesM&A

  BLG reviewed its forwarding portfolio within the broader development of its automobile, contract and container divisions.

  What changed. The company sold the sea- and air-freight forwarding activities organized in BLG International Forwarding to Rhenus Air & Sea.

  Aftermath. BLG retained its forwarding location in Bremen while reducing the scope of the transferred forwarding business.

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• 1999Container business combined with EurokaiM&A

  Containerization had become central to the transformation of North European port logistics.

  What changed. BLG merged its container business with Hamburg-based Eurokai in the Eurogate joint venture.

  Aftermath. Eurogate developed into a multi-region container-terminal operator, while BLG concentrated on its wider logistics-group structure.

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• 1998Adoption of the BLG Group holding structureStrategy

  BLG sought to evolve from a local port company into an international logistics group with a clearer separation between strategic ownership and operating businesses.

  What changed. The group created BLG Logistics Group AG & Co. KG as the limited partner and retained Bremer Lagerhaus-Gesellschaft as general partner.

  Aftermath. Operating subsidiaries and affiliates were subsequently organized around automobile, contract and container logistics.

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• 2025Matthias Magnor succeeds Frank Dreeke as CEO

  Matthias Magnor took over BLG’s chief executive role from Frank Dreeke.

  Leadership change
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• 2025BLG expands domestic vehicle-terminal capacity at Ahlhorn Airport

  The company built an additional domestic terminal for cars at Ahlhorn Airport.

  Product launch
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• 2025BLG agrees strategic partnership with COSCO

  BLG agreed a strategic partnership with COSCO concerning BLG’s terminal in Bremerhaven.

  M&A
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• 2023Permanent vehicle rail service launched between Germany and Turkey

  BLG launched a permanent car-train connection linking Kelheim with Köseköy on Turkey’s Sea of Marmara.

  Product launch
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• 2022BLG launches joint venture with Hyundai Glovis in Bremerhaven

  BLG and Hyundai Glovis established a joint venture in Bremerhaven focused on vehicle logistics.

  M&AOther
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• 2022BLG begins partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme

  BLG became a logistics partner of the United Nations World Food Programme, contributing logistics expertise for emergency situations.

  Other
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• 2021BLG sells most sea- and air-freight forwarding activities to Rhenus

  BLG transferred its forwarding activities organized in BLG International Forwarding to Rhenus Air & Sea; the Bremen forwarding location was excluded from the transaction.

  M&A
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1. BLG Logistics
2. BLG Logistics Group official website