About Us
Marwest LLC is a USDOT-licensed international freight forwarder and customs broker specializing in Africa, China, and USA trade lanes. Six offices. 45+ countries. 18+ years of freight expertise.
Gallery
Social Account
Our Story
From a Texas Freight Brokerage to a Global Trade Partner
Founded in Texas. Built for the World.
Marwest LLC was established in 2006 in Texas by a team of logistics professionals who recognized a significant opportunity: the rapidly growing trade corridors between sub-Saharan Africa, China, and North America were underserved by specialized, culturally fluent freight forwarders.
Beginning as a domestic freight brokerage, we quickly expanded into international ocean freight, securing our USDOT license (970772) and FMC NVOCC status. Our first international breakthrough came through the US-Mexico border trade, followed rapidly by trans-Atlantic connections to West and Southern Africa.
By 2010, Marwest LLC had opened its first African office in Namibia — marking the beginning of a continental freight network that now spans six offices across the USA, China, and sub-Saharan Africa.
18 Years of Growth & Achievement
Founded in Texas
Marwest LLC incorporated in Texas as a US domestic freight brokerage, serving the growing US-Mexico border trade and connecting with Latin American logistics partners.
USDOT & FMC Licensing
Secured USDOT licence 970772 and FMC Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) status, formally entering the international ocean freight market.
First African Office — Namibia
Opened our Namibia office in Walvis Bay, establishing the first link in what would become a pan-African logistics network. Walvis Bay was chosen for its strategic position as Southern Africa's gateway port.
South Africa & Togo Operations
Expanded into Durban and Cape Town in South Africa, and opened our Lome, Togo office — providing full West African freight coverage from the Gulf of Guinea.
Shandong, China Office Established
Opened our Shandong operations centre, giving Marwest LLC direct presence in China's premier manufacturing province. This enabled factory sourcing, pre-shipment inspection, and cargo consolidation services for African importers.
Trade Finance Division Launched
Launched our USD/RMB settlement and trade finance division, providing African importers with structured payment facilitation for Chinese suppliers — a critical gap in the market.
Georgia East Coast Office
Opened our Georgia office to support the growing Port of Savannah trade volumes and serve East Coast US customers requiring direct Atlantic shipping routes to Africa and China.
TSA Known Shipper Certification
Achieved TSA Known Shipper status, enabling Marwest LLC to tender cargo directly to US commercial and freighter airlines — a significant expansion of our air freight capabilities.
45+ Countries Milestone
Surpassed the 45-country service milestone, with active freight operations, agent partnerships, and customs relationships across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe.
IATA DGR Certification
Completed IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations certification across our freight team, enabling full DGR cargo handling and documentation for all air freight shipments.
Real-Time Cargo Portal Launch
Launched our client cargo tracking portal, providing real-time shipment visibility from booking to delivery for all ocean, air, and road freight movements.
Expansion Driven by Market Need
Building Africa's Freight Future
Africa is home to 54 countries, 1.4 billion people, and some of the world's fastest-growing economies. Yet for decades, African importers and exporters faced significant barriers: high freight costs, limited direct shipping options, complex customs environments, and the challenge of making cross-border payments to Chinese suppliers.
Marwest LLC was built specifically to address these challenges. Our African offices are staffed by local freight professionals — people who know the ports, the customs processes, the carriers, and the business culture of their respective markets.
From Walvis Bay to Lome to Durban, we have invested in physical presence, local relationships, and deep market knowledge that no remote freight desk can replicate.
Deep China Expertise Since 2013
Your China Freight Partner from Factory to Port
Our Shandong office is the engine of our China operations. Located in one of China's most important industrial and port provinces, we have direct access to factories across Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, and beyond.
Our Chinese-speaking freight team manages the full export cycle: from factory identification and pre-shipment quality inspection to cargo consolidation, export declaration, and container loading at Qingdao, Tianjin, Shanghai, or Guangzhou.
We also facilitate RMB supplier payments from USD client funds — a critical service for African importers who face significant friction in cross-border China payments.
The Numbers Behind Our Story
A Team Built on Expertise & Partnership
Local Expertise
We hire locally in every market — freight professionals who speak the language, know the ports, and understand the local regulatory environment.
Continuous Learning
All staff undergo annual IATA DGR, customs compliance, and freight management training to maintain the highest professional standards.
Partnership Philosophy
We grow when our clients grow. We price fairly, communicate transparently, and resolve problems swiftly — because long-term relationships define our business.
Community Commitment
We invest in logistics skills development, local employment, and community initiatives in every African country where we operate.
Start Your Freight Journey with Marwest LLC
Tell us about your freight requirements and our team will respond with a competitive quote, routing options, and transit time estimates within 4 business hours.
