Find Freight, Shipping and Logistics expertise in Cyprus

Cyprus’ geographically strategic location has contributed to the development of an extensive port infrastructure and a merchant fleet that is ranked 10th in a list of maritime nations. About 70 shipping lines include Cyprus in their regular schedules to and from five continents and more than 5,000 ships, totalling 23 million net registered tonnes, call at Cypriot ports each year. Limassol and Larnaca ports are the island’s main sea gateways handling over eight million tonnes of international seaborne cargo.

The Cyprus Ports Authority and the private sector provide port operations, offering extensive and competitive facilities. Limassol, the main port, has two quays with a total length of 1,980 metres, five warehouses providing covered space of total area 39,760 sq metres, open storage spaces for conventional cargo of 157,000 sq metres and stacking areas for containers 344,400 sq metres. Larnaca possesses two quays – one 326 metres in length, the other 340m in length with a ramp of 25 metres suitable for ro-ro ships. The port provides three closed warehouses, along with paved open storage spaces of 150,000 sq meters and non-paved spaces of 65,000 sq meters.

Air-freight providers also offer services from Cyprus’ airports, mainly the international hubs at Larnaca and Paphos, to numerous destinations around the globe. The management and control of the airports is under Hermes Airports Limited, an international consortium of nine shareholders, including both Cypriot and international partners. Providers of air freight services include the main airline, Cyprus Airways.

In the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (2012) Cyprus was ranked 38th out of 155 countries in terms of infrastructure. It was given a value of 3.17 out of five, compared to an average of 3.32 for other high income non-OECD countries.

The freight-forwarding industry is established and competitive with leading global logistics companies operating in the country, including Deloitte and PwC. There are numerous integrated companies and providers in operation, including the global firms DHL, Fedex (represented in Cyprus by Gap Express), TNT and UPS.

The Ministry of Communications and Works incorporates amongst others the Department of Merchant Shipping, the Department of Road Transport, Department of Civil Aviation and the Department of Postal Services. The Cyprus Shipping Chamber is the main trade association of the shipping industry in the country, whilst the Cyprus Shipping Association also represents shipping agents. Operators are represented by the Cyprus Freight Forwarders Association.

The World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (2012) ranked Cyprus 35th overall out of 155 countries, with a score of 3.24, 71.8% of the highest performer, Singapore. Each country is scored from one to five, with one being the worst performance in terms of logistics, infrastructure and customs amongst other categories. In relation to international shipments (36th) and tracking and tracing (36th), Cyprus scored above the average for its income group, high income non-OECD countries. In terms of customs (39th), logistics competence (37th) and timeliness (51st), the country was given a value below that of the average for its income group.

Freight, Shipping and Logistics organisations in Cyprus
Amathus Aegeas Ltd
Customs and Excise
Cyrus Shipping Association, The
Share