The measures are part of the turnaround strategy for Ekol International Transport, which DFDS acquired in mid-November 2024. The company aims to break even by the end of 2025, but CEO Torben Carlsen acknowledged the difficult decisions involved in the process.
“Our newly acquired Turkish transport company plays an important role in supporting Türkiye’s growth as a manufacturing hub and European trading partner. The company’s financial performance is however in need of a comprehensive turnaround requiring tough decisions. We are therefore re-organising the company and will unfortunately have to part ways with 125 valued and skilled office employees,” Carlsen said.
Ekol International Transport now operates as a separate business unit within DFDS’s Logistics Division, named Türkiye & Europe South. Additionally, two of its country organisations have been transferred to DFDS’s Continent business unit.
The Istanbul head office has been reviewed and adapted to financial and market conditions, leading to the redundancy of 125 office employees. Transport corridors between Türkiye and European operations have also been streamlined to improve efficiency in flow balances, asset utilisation, and volume growth.
Operational efficiency and fleet rightsizing
DFDS has begun downsizing its equipment fleet, with 278 trailers already sold. Further disposals and subcontracting of several hundred additional trucks and trailers are planned for 2025. The company is shifting focus towards increased deployment of haulage subcontractors to improve operational flexibility.
The efficiency drive also includes efforts to enhance intermodal transport solutions—a combination of road, ferry, and rail—to reduce costs and improve service reliability.
Despite the restructuring, DFDS has reported positive early results from its cross-selling strategy, leveraging its European network. The company is working to optimise value propositions for both top-tier and long-tail customers, aiming to grow volumes and improve financial performance.