SDV has acquired the business of the Belgian forwarding company EDT. EDT, founded in 2001, is specialised in shipping conventional and project related cargo, and also offers tailor-made solutions for small and medium-sized companies.

The majority of the cargo-flows managed by EDT consist of (dry) bulk cargo to and from Africa, which totalled 8,000 TEUs and 126 000 tonnes in 2012.

SDV will keep on operating these flows under the EDT name.

Carl Bolens, managing director and founder of EDT will also join SDV. He has a long track record in this industry being previously sales director for CMB line and then Safmarine. He will be assisted by another four staff.

With this takeover, SDV acquires extra know-how and intelligence with respect to the handling and shipping of bulk cargo.

“We noticed that some of our customers are considering a shift from container transport to bulk shipments in West Africa”, said Geert De Wilde, CEO for Benelux, SDV.

In 2013, SDV Belgium (Antwerp, Brucargo and Ostend) realised an increase in turnover of 10 percent. SDV is market leader for shipments to, from and within Africa. Last year, some 98,000 TEUs and 12,000 roro-shipments were handled by SDV Belgium.

SDV is a subsidiary of supply chain firm Bollore Group.