Norther Global Logistics (NGL), which began operations by providing transport services between Turkey and the Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark), has achieved significant successes over the past 11 years. Founded in 2013 by NGL Logistics’ founding partners Ferhat Emanetoğlu and Sefa Erol, and starting out with a team of five, NGL has now grown to a total of 200 employees. Specialising in transport between Scandinavia and Turkey, NGL provides transport services to the Baltic States, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, the Benelux countries and Germany. As Green Logistics, we met with Ferhat Emanetoğlu, Co-founder of NGL. Ferhat Emanetoğlu explained how NGL was founded, its current position in the sector, and its future goals.
NAMED ‘SWIMMER OF THE YEAR’ IN TURKEY IN 1995
A former national swimmer who was named ‘Swimmer of the Year’ in Turkey in 1995, Ferhat Emanetoğlu began his professional career at Balnak in 2002, immediately after graduating from the Faculty of Economics at Istanbul University. Having held senior positions at Balnak for around eight years and subsequently at leading logistics firms in the sector, Ferhat Emanetoğlu met NGL’s other founding partner, Sefa Erol, during this period, and together they founded NGL in 2013. Emanetoğlu noted that, thanks to his knowledge of the international agency network, strong supplier network and industry experience, combined with the pool of qualified staff he brought to the firm, they were able to establish a successful structure in a short space of time. He added that, together with his partner, they achieved rapid growth through an effective management approach.
THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES HAS RISEN FROM 5 TO 200 IN 10 YEARS
“My partner, Sefa Erol, and I have known each other for around 20 years. By setting up NGL, we’ve created a great synergy. We’ve built a strong organisation. Having started in this sector with just five people in 2013, we now have a workforce of around 200, including white-collar staff, blue-collar workers and our drivers,” said Ferhat Emanetoğlu, adding that they owe their success to bringing together experienced staff who have reached key positions in the sector with recent graduates and enthusiastic young people under one roof to form a hard-working team.
REGULAR EXERCISE AND AN ACTIVE SOCIAL LIFE HELP HIM FOCUS MORE ON HIS WORK
Emanetoğlu, who began his sporting career at Yeşilyurt Sports Club, continues to exercise regularly even after a 14-year professional swimming career. “My life is divided between sport and work. I exercise at least three days a week. I try to make my lifestyle and outlook on life different,” said Emanetoğlu, emphasising that whilst finding time for sport and social life is difficult for those living in Istanbul and other major cities, sport is important for both physical and mental health. Emanetoğlu also noted that they strive to create opportunities to encourage their staff to take up sport. Explaining that, under the current hybrid working model, office staff work from the office three days a week, whilst those who wish to do so can continue working remotely by notifying Human Resources, Emanetoğlu emphasised that they provide financial support for their employees’ personal development, particularly for sports and leisure activities, and that they aim to make this a permanent arrangement.
ENTERED THE DOMESTIC TRANSPORT SECTOR DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND STRENGTHENED ITS POSITION DOMESTICALLY
Emanetoğlu, stating that NGL specialises in road transport to Central European, Baltic, Balkan and Scandinavian countries, explained: “About two years ago, we also began providing transport services to Germany and the Benelux countries. On the routes we operate, we mainly transport textiles, automotive spare parts, packaging, aluminium profiles and general cargo. We also offer heavy haulage (project) services. Furthermore, we provide express transport using our minivans. We have also started offering groupage transport via minivans.
We entered the domestic transport market approximately three years ago. We are particularly strong in domestic transport. We provide a domestic transport service covering the whole of Turkey. There has been significant growth in e-commerce, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic. Accordingly, we have offices and transhipment centres in Istanbul, Gebze and Ankara.”
NGL HAS MADE POLAND ITS EUROPEAN HUB
Emanetoğlu, noting that NGL had launched its operations in Poland around two years ago, said they have their own team of nine people in Poland. Emanetoğlu explained why NGL had opened a branch in Poland as follows: “We have agents in every country we operate in, but in Poland we have our own office. This is because Poland forms one of our largest routes. Thanks to this branch, we handle the loading and unloading of our incoming and outgoing vehicles in Poland, as well as carrying out transport operations within Europe. Furthermore, our plans include expanding our vehicle fleet in Poland. In this way, we aim to establish a stronger structure for transport operations across Europe.”
THIS YEAR’S TARGET: DEVELOPING ROUTES
“We have a fleet comprising a total of 80 tractor units and 80 trailers. We use our vehicles for a maximum of five years before replacing them. We operate entirely by road. However, we plan to use the Karasu–Constanta Ro-Ro route to Romania, as lengthy delays at border crossings reduce operational efficiency,” said Emanetoğlu, adding that their aim this year is to develop their routes.
“WE’VE FOCUSED ON PROFITABLE BUSINESSES”
Explaining that, as NGL, they have focused on profitable businesses rather than aggressive growth this year, Emanetoğlu said, “Last year, we grew by 25 per cent in turnover. It will be difficult to achieve another 25 per cent growth this year. However, we are forecasting growth of 20 per cent this year. This will be profitable growth. “In my view, growth based on turnover is not a benchmark during this period. In fact, it is a risk. Why? Because you are financing operations and putting your money out there. You cannot claim to have made a profit until you have received your money back. Why am I saying this? In Turkey today, it is very difficult to find a company – apart from those with foreign capital – that honours its payment terms. We need to pay attention to this during this period,” he said.
“Over the past two years, both exporters and those in the service sector like us have been struggling immensely,” said Emanetoğlu, explaining how they had overcome this challenge: “We are now phasing out unprofitable and low-margin businesses. We have never chosen—and do not choose—to operate at a loss or with minimal profit. We have shifted our focus to projects that yield a certain level of profit. Furthermore, taking out a loan at this time requires courage because interest rates are very high. I believe this situation will continue into 2025, and I think things will only begin to normalise in the first quarter of 2026.”
“THE VISA ISSUE IS ONE OF THE LOGISTICS SECTOR’S BIGGEST PROBLEMS”
Stating that they are a logistics firm with 11 years’ experience and 100 per cent Turkish ownership, Emanetoğlu emphasised that the biggest problem in the sector at present is the Schengen visa. Noting that this problem is not limited to drivers, Emanetoğlu said, “There are times when we even struggle to send our own staff abroad on sales trips. Furthermore, due to the visa issue, we need to increase our current number of drivers.”
Saying that they have invested in human resources this year, Emanetoğlu noted that they have postponed other investments due to economic reasons. However, stating that they will invest in tractors and trailers next year to expand the fleet of their Polish branches, Emanetoğlu underlined that their main objective is to develop their active routes.
LONG-TERM GOAL: TO OWN A WAREHOUSE OF 10–15,000 SQUARE METRES
Emanetoğlu stated that they currently own a warehouse in Ataşehir Ferhatpaşa with a total area of 3,000 square metres, 2,000 square metres of which is covered, and emphasised that their long-term goal is to own a warehouse of 10–15,000 square metres.
