Advance International is undertaking a major project freight management contract on behalf of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), shipping thousands of parts and pieces of equipment from all over the globe to help construct a huge fertiliser plant in Sohar, Oman.

The multi-million-dollar fertiliser complex is being constructed by MHI and is set to be operational in 2008. Acting as the exclusive worldwide freight forwarder for the project, Advance International has had to collect equipment and items from 208 shippers or manufacturers located in some 37 countries. The largest item was a 442-tonne ammonia converter unit, shipped from Italy to Oman recently.
The complex will comprise a 2,000 tonnes per day (tpd) ammonia plant, a 3,500 tpd urea production and granulation plant, and supporting facilities.
Originally headquartered in London, in the 1980s, Advance International relocated to Istanbul, the geopolitical and transport hub of central Asia.
Over 60 per cent of its turnover comes from Japanese clients including Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Mitsui, IHI, Toshiba and Marubeni.
Other major customers include Exxon Mobile, General Electric, Westinghouse, Fiat Avio, Ansaldo, Areva, ABB, Bechtel, Corus, Arcelor and leading car, truck and mining machinery manufacturers.