## Company Profile ATLAS INTERNATIONAL NETWORK N.V. — freight forwarder headquartered in Belgium (Antwerp region). Public website: http://www.atlas-network.com. The company positions itself as an international freight forwarding and logistics network member; the Atlas International Network is a cooperative network connecting independent freight forwarders and logistics providers across Europe and globally. Their team page lists management including Managing Director Lyanne Huysmans. Services typically include ocean and air freight forwarding, customs clearance support, warehousing and distribution, and cross-border multimodal transport. Scale is mid-market: independent forwarder representing network partners rather than a large global brand; likely SME-focused client base including Belgian agri-food exporters using Antwerp and Zeebrugge gateways. ## Pain Points 1) Service reliability & schedule volatility: 2026 port congestion and carrier blank sailings create 6–10 day delays that increase safety stock and working capital for SME food exporters (pains Atlas must manage for clients).\n2) Digital friction & documentation: SMEs still rely on manual workflows; forwarders are pressured to provide easier, transparent booking, tracking and customs workflows.\n3) Access to refeer capacity & flexible routing: competition for premium reefer slots on Africa/MENA trades and origin diversification raises procurement complexity and margin pressure for Atlas and its SME clients. ## Intel Summary Multi-dimension search on Port of Antwerp (2026) congestion, Belgian agri export demand signals to Africa/MENA in 2026, and 2026 freight-forwarder problem framing. Key findings: Port of Antwerp-Bruges 2025 throughput was resilient but Q1 2026 shows a 2.6% TEU fall and ongoing congestion; average delays in 2025/early-2026 reported in 6–10 day ranges. Antwerp is shifting toward higher import share and handling less transshipment in some segments. For Belgian food/agri exports, Africa and MENA show steady medium-term import growth (OECD-FAO 2025–2034 outlook) for cereals, vegetable oils, sugar and processed foods; 2026 freight patterns point to carriers gravitating to resilient food/FMCG trades, potential tightness in premium reefer slots, and more multi-hub routing (Antwerp/Rotterdam/Le Havre/Med hubs). Forwarder challenges in 2026: rate volatility (softer average rates but persistent spikes), surcharge unpredictability, effective capacity constraints despite vessel deliveries, and uneven digitisation; SMEs suffer planning, rate budgeting and documentation pain. Sources: Port of Antwerp-Bruges press releases (2025-2026), AlixPartners 2026 container shipping outlook, S&P Global ocean freight outlook 2026, OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2025-2034, Flemish agro-trade statistics, Supply & Demand Chain Executive, industry commentary/Reddit practitioner threads (digitisation).