Company: Imperial Logistics
Country: South Africa
Sector: Conglomerate
CEO: Not publicly listed
Website: https://www.imperiallogistics.com
Careers Page: Not publicly listed
LinkedIn: Not publicly listed
Email: Not publicly listed
Headquarters: Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa
Founded: 1948
Valuation/Revenue: $3,165.0m revenue (African Business Top 250, 2025, rank #50); acquired by DP World for approximately R12.7bn ($800m) in a deal that concluded in March 2022, delisting the company from the JSE
Imperial Logistics is a South African-founded logistics and supply chain company that provides transport, warehousing, freight and market-access services across automotive, chemicals, consumer goods, healthcare and industrial sectors in around 32 countries spanning Africa and Europe. Crucially, the company is no longer an independently listed public entity: it was acquired by Dubai-based ports and logistics group DP World in a deal that concluded in March 2022, ending 35 years of trading on the JSE under the ticker IPL.
Is Imperial Logistics Still a Public Company?
No. This is the single most important fact for anyone researching Imperial Logistics today, because some data sources still describe it as a JSE-listed company. In February-March 2022, DP World completed a takeover offer for 100% of Imperial Logistics, valuing the deal at roughly R12.7 billion, and the company was subsequently delisted from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. It continues to operate under the Imperial Logistics brand and website, but it now functions as a private subsidiary within DP World’s Sub-Saharan Africa and European logistics operations rather than as a standalone public company reporting independently to shareholders.
What Does Imperial Logistics Do?
The business provides supply chain management, contract logistics, freight forwarding, warehousing and distribution services to corporate clients, organised around five core industry verticals: automotive, chemicals, consumer goods, healthcare and industrial/commodities. Historically, before its automotive dealership and vehicle-import operations were spun off into a separately listed company (Motus Holdings) in 2018, “Imperial” as a broader group also had a large vehicle retail and import business; the logistics-focused entity that DP World later acquired is the pure-play supply chain business that remained after that split.
How Old Is Imperial Logistics?
The broader Imperial corporate lineage traces back to 1948, though the logistics-focused entity in its current form dates to 2018, when Imperial Holdings demerged into two separately listed companies: Imperial Logistics (the supply chain and logistics business) and Motus Holdings (the vehicle dealership, rental and related business). Imperial Logistics then operated as an independent JSE-listed company for roughly four years before its 2022 acquisition by DP World.
Who Owns Imperial Logistics Now?
DP World, the Dubai Government-owned global ports and logistics operator, is the current owner following its 2022 acquisition. This makes Imperial Logistics part of a much larger global logistics network that includes port terminals, container shipping infrastructure and freight services across dozens of countries, rather than an independent South African corporate entity accountable to its own separate shareholder base.
How Big Is Imperial Logistics?
Imperial Logistics remains large by revenue, appearing at #50 on the African Business Top 250 (2025) list with revenue of roughly $3.17bn, and historically it had reported annual revenue in excess of R100 billion with more than 52,000 employees group-wide before its restructuring and the DP World acquisition. Its continued presence on major revenue rankings reflects the scale of the underlying logistics operations even though the entity is now privately owned.
Where Is Imperial Logistics Headquartered?
Its operational head office is in Germiston, in South Africa’s Gauteng province, near Johannesburg, historically the base for the broader Imperial Group’s operations.
How Does Imperial Logistics Compare to Its Competitors?
Within African logistics, Imperial Logistics (now under DP World) competes with companies such as JSE-listed Super Group’s logistics division, Barloworld Logistics, and various pan-African freight and supply chain operators. As part of DP World, it also gains access to DP World’s broader global port and shipping network, potentially giving it competitive advantages in integrated end-to-end freight solutions that purely domestic logistics competitors cannot match.
How Is Imperial Logistics Organised Today?
Since becoming part of DP World, Imperial Logistics has continued operating under its established brand and leadership structure across its 32-country African and European footprint, though it now reports as part of DP World’s broader logistics segment rather than filing independent JSE financial statements. Its five industry verticals — automotive, chemicals, consumer, healthcare and industrial — allow it to offer specialised supply chain expertise tailored to the regulatory and handling requirements of each sector, such as temperature-controlled pharmaceutical distribution in its healthcare vertical or hazardous materials handling in its chemicals vertical.
What Changed When Imperial Split From Motus?
The 2018 demerger that created Imperial Logistics as a standalone JSE entity separated the group’s asset-heavy vehicle import, distribution and dealership operations (which became Motus Holdings) from its supply chain and freight management operations (which retained the Imperial Logistics name). This split allowed each business to pursue a more focused strategy and be valued independently by the market — Motus as a vehicle retail and mobility business, and Imperial Logistics as a pure-play African and European logistics operator, which ultimately made it an attractive acquisition target for DP World’s African expansion strategy in 2021-2022.
Links
Website: https://www.imperiallogistics.com
Careers Page: Not found
LinkedIn: Not found
Email: Not publicly listed
FAQ
Is Imperial Logistics still listed on the JSE?
No. It was delisted in March 2022 after being fully acquired by DP World.
Who owns Imperial Logistics now?
DP World, the Dubai-based global ports and logistics operator.
What does Imperial Logistics do?
Supply chain management, contract logistics, freight and distribution services across automotive, chemicals, consumer goods, healthcare and industrial sectors in about 32 countries.
Is Imperial Logistics the same company as Motus Holdings?
No, they were split into two separately listed companies in 2018; Motus took the vehicle dealership and rental businesses, while Imperial Logistics kept the supply chain and freight operations.
When was Imperial Logistics founded?
Its corporate lineage traces to 1948, though the standalone logistics entity dates to a 2018 demerger.
How much did DP World pay for Imperial Logistics?
Approximately R12.7 billion (around $800 million) in the deal completed in March 2022.