The power of partnership in global liquid logistics

News 9.3.2026

When Horst Behm sets something up, he doesn’t do it half-heartedly. As founder and CEO of the Premier Bulk Liquids Alliance (PBLA), he has built a network that brings together the world’s leading local and independent liquid logistics operators. In his work, he moves fluidly between markets, develops partnerships and opens doors to areas that a single operator might not be able to reach.

One of these partnerships is with KWH Logistics and Moonway. The collaboration started in autumn 2020. Behm remembers the beginning clearly, as it was already apparent from the first conversations with Moonway’s Commercial Director Juho Makkonen that the companies shared a common view of the world. Transparency, perseverance and a genuine desire to build a real partnership created the foundations for a collaboration that has since grown naturally and steadily.

Together more than the sum of its parts

Behm describes partnership as, above all, an asset. Each party brings specific expertise to the table: local market knowledge, technical capacity, tailored services and in-depth segment expertise. When these are combined, the outcome is much broader and stronger than what any of the partners could achieve alone.

Trust is the cornerstone of cooperation. “We understand each other’s way of working and share the same goal: to solve our customers’ challenges efficiently and reliably,” Behm says. “This is what distinguishes partnership from mere cooperation.”

Networks – the backbone of modern logistics

In modern logistics, networks no longer play a mere supporting role. They are the foundation of the entire ndustry. The business environment is changing rapidly, demands are increasing and supply chains are becoming increasingly complex. A single company can no longer do it all alone.

A network like PBLA provides what customers need most: access to the right markets, shared expertise and resources that facilitate flexibility and competitiveness. Independent operators gain global visibility without compromising local expertise. This combination is now a logistical superpower.

The network is decisive – a concrete example

Behm highlights a situation in which the importance of the network materialised. The customer had an urgent large bulk cargo transfer from one region to another, but the local operator lacked experience with flexitanks and the cross-border transport regulations in the region. PBLA brought together a knowledgeable operator in the destination country and an expert in the region of origin, who together designed the documentation, adapted the equipment and ensured compliance. The outcome was a smooth delivery, on time and on budget.

“Without the common language and trust that the network brings, this would have been a much more challenging project,” Behm says.

Looking to the future: digitalisation, transparency and local expertise

According to Behm, the logistics sector is rapidly moving into the digital age. Customers expect real-time visibility and data-driven solutions. At the same time, sustainability and safety requirements are becoming more stringent. This puts pressure on the modernisation of equipment and the development of processes.

“Local expertise is increasingly important,” says Behm. “Global supply chains will increasingly rely on regional experts that are familiar with the markets and regulatory requirements.”

A partnership that goes beyond individual actions

Lastly, Behm would like to highlight the advantage that PBLA offers customers: there is no need to choose between global reach and local expertise. The network combines the both.

But perhaps most importantly, he highlights something else – people.

“The value of logistics comes from relationships,” says Behm. ”The cooperation with KWH Logistics and Moonway has reminded me how much more can be achieved when we share a vision and genuinely work together.”