Gaston Schul expands in Europe with Italy and Austria acquisitions

By AI, Created 3:16 PM UTC, May 30, 2026, /AGP/ – Gaston Schul said June 1, 2026, that it acquired customs firms in Italy and Austria and expanded operations in Poland and France, pushing its network to 13 European countries. The moves are aimed at giving large shippers and logistics providers a more connected, digitally integrated customs partner as EU trade rules and AI reshape the market.

Why it matters: - Gaston Schul is widening its European footprint as customs services move toward more standardized, digitally connected operations. - The expansion gives multinational shippers and logistics providers one customs partner across more markets, which can reduce fragmentation and improve visibility. - The company is positioning itself as an independent alternative while the industry consolidates under private equity and large logistics groups.

What happened: - Gaston Schul announced the acquisition of Parodi Forwarding S.r.l. in Italy and Markart & Schmid Zollservice OG in Austria on June 1, 2026. - The company also expanded operations in Poland and France. - The changes extend Gaston Schul’s network to 13 European countries. - The company said the rest of Europe is served through an established alliance network. - Gaston Schul is based in Venlo, Netherlands.

The details: - In Italy, the Parodi Forwarding acquisition gives Gaston Schul immediate market presence and an experienced customs team. - In Austria, the Markart & Schmid deal extends DACH coverage and adds local customs expertise that links with operations in Germany and Switzerland. - In Poland, Gaston Schul expanded its presence in Łódź and said the move deepens integration across Central Europe. - The Poland operation supports deep-sea and rail flows linking the EU, the United Kingdom and eastern markets. - In France, Gaston Schul expanded in St Louis to serve French shippers and logistics providers. - Gaston Schul said the French operation will use the same connected portfolio offered across its wider European network. - The company said more than 350 professionals support its operations across the network. - Gaston Schul said it delivers five connected services: Customs Clearance, Customs Technology, Customs & Trade Advisory, Customs Control Tower and Customs Academy. - The company said it is privately owned, has more than 180 years of industry experience and is AEO-certified across its European operations. - Gaston Schul said its approach combines customs expertise, technology, operational structure and a full-service portfolio in a single connected network. - The company said customers want standardized, scalable and digitally integrated solutions across multiple countries. - Gaston Schul said its Customs Control Tower provides one point of accountability for multi-country customs flows. - The company said its technology connects data across markets to give customers full visibility. - A LinkedIn page for the company is available here.

Between the lines: - CEO Sander van Lent said AI, digitalization and the upcoming EU Customs Reform are pushing Gaston Schul to accelerate its strategy. - Van Lent said the company believes its growing footprint and digital-first approach position it for the next phase of growth. - The acquisitions and operational expansions also reinforce Gaston Schul’s message that one European operating model can replace fragmented customs setups. - The emphasis on independence is meant to stand out in a market where ownership is increasingly concentrated.

What’s next: - Gaston Schul said it will keep building a single standard of quality, one operational philosophy and one customer experience across Europe. - The company is likely to keep leaning on its Customs Control Tower and connected data model as customs rules and trade flows become more complex. - Gaston Schul said it views the expansion as part of a broader rollout of its European strategy.