Altana Acquires Cervo AI to Automate Customs Compliance

Altana expands customs capabilities with Cervo acquisition

Altana has acquired Cervo AI, a startup specializing in automated customs paperwork, in a cash-and-stock transaction that could surpass $100 million based on performance milestones, according to details first reported by Sourcing Journal.

The acquisition positions Altana to offer an end-to-end customs compliance solution at a time when shifting tariff policies and increased trade scrutiny are creating bottlenecks for importers and logistics providers. Altana's existing platform maps supply chains by aggregating shipment records, public trade data, and supplier information to trace product origins. Its AI then classifies goods, determines country of origin, calculates duties, and identifies compliance risks.

Cervo's technology will extend this capability by automatically generating the customs documentation required to clear shipments—work traditionally performed manually by licensed customs brokers who classify goods, verify origin, calculate duties, check free trade eligibility, and secure necessary permits.

Why it matters

Customs compliance has become a critical pressure point in global trade. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has processed over 63 million entry summaries in the current fiscal year—27 percent higher than all of last year and 65 percent above levels from two years ago. This surge stems partly from the elimination of the de minimis provision for shipments under $800 and expanded enforcement of laws like the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Companies that can automate compliance workflows gain speed and reduce risk exposure as regulatory complexity intensifies.

Customer base spans major logistics players

Altana counts eight of the ten largest logistics providers as customers, including Maersk. The company has worked with U.S. Customs and Border Protection since 2022, providing more than 2,000 CBP agents with tools to identify forced labor exposure across multi-tier supply chains.

Altana recently expanded its Maersk partnership by launching digital product passports for goods moving through the Gemini Cooperation shipping alliance with Hapag-Lloyd. These passports function similarly to Global Entry for travelers—pre-verified goods move through compliance checks faster because customs authorities can access verified information rather than conducting full risk reviews for each shipment. The system covers 12 major international ports handling 70 percent of global trade volume.

The passport system uses a federated data model that allows Maersk to share product information with government authorities while keeping underlying data within secure company environments.

Cervo founders see scale opportunity

"We built Cervo to take the most painful, manual work off customs brokers' desks," said Thomas Jiang, co-founder and co-CEO of Cervo AI. "Joining Altana gives us the opportunity to bring that vision to the world's largest logistics providers."

Altana CEO Evan Smith described the combined offering as "a single end-to-end agentic system—from the moment goods are classified to the moment the entry clears."

Beyond logistics providers, Altana's customer base includes L.L. Bean, Skims, and Avery Dennison.

Details of the acquisition were first reported by Sourcing Journal.