In 1991, KADCO (Ethiopia) PLC was established as an international trading house with the purpose of trade and manufacturing of detergent products. Following the change of legislation that allowed private companies to participate in the business of freight forwarding and shipping services, KADCO changed its activities from trade to logistics services. Consequently, KADCO was renamed Samatra Logistics and Shipping.

Until 2009, Samatra was part of the larger KADCO Group. With the establishment of MCC, Samatra switched ships and came under the wings of the MCC group. Under MCC, long-term strategies were applied to engage the group in the businesses of logistics and trade. Within the MCC Group, Sachem Import & Export PLC focused on industrial chemicals, MCC Import & Export on construction chemicals and materials, and Samatra Logistics and Shipping focused on the services of logistics

Samatra Logistics and Shipping aspires to work as a partner with its clients. Samatra works tirelessly to provide end-to-end services and consult its clients on all aspects of the requirements for the procedures, documentation, and operations of logistics and international trade and finance activities.