White Whale plays a critical role in enabling trade across North Africa. Their ability to structure halal-compliant financing solutions, secure reliable supply chains and connect international manufacturers with regional distributors has created opportunities that would otherwise remain inaccessible. They are a trusted long-term partner in every sense of the word.
Wefinance,distribute
and scale branded products.
We help manufacturers and distributors unlock growth across Africa, CIS and Asia through trade finance, market access and local distribution expertise.
By bridging funding gaps, mitigating market risk and connecting international brands with trusted local partners, we enable business in developing markets and unlock non-conventional channels such as cruise ships, offshore operations and open markets.
Interactive global networkClick a cluster
The Firm
Headquartered in Vienna, White Whale is a private trading house built on Austrian financial prudence and the operational depth required to finance, secure and distribute trade across the world's most demanding emerging markets.
We are not brokers and not classical export advisors. We deploy capital, structure trade finance, place goods through last-mile distribution networks and develop markets actively — from Eastern Europe and the Balkans through West and East Africa to South and South-East Asia.
Every mandate is approached with the discretion of a private bank and the operational depth of a global logistics partner — a single point of accountability for cross-border complexity in markets where others hesitate.
10+
Years export experience
96
Countries covered
36M+
Cruise passenger reach
$250,000
Avg. shipment value
Strategic Pillars
Four pillars. One standard: excellence.
Institutional expertise spanning trade finance, market access, cruise & yachting, and offshore & container supply — built for emerging and frontier markets.
Capital
Trade Finance
Letters of credit, pre- and post-shipment finance, standby LCs and risk syndication — structured for counterparties operating in Eastern Europe, Africa and South Asia.
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Distribution
Market Access & Distribution
Branded products placed through our own last-mile networks into developing markets — from West African retail to South-East Asian wholesale and open-air trading hubs.
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Maritime
Cruise & Yachting
Non-traditional FMCG channel: cruise ships, yachts and maritime hospitality — branded supply, certified sourcing and on-time port delivery worldwide.
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Offshore
Offshore & Container Ships
Oil platforms, offshore installations and container fleets require continuous, certified and internationally coordinated FMCG and technical supply — coordinated from Vienna.
DiscoverGlobal Network
Connecting emerging markets from Vienna in the heart of Europe.
Active trade corridors across Eastern Europe & the Balkans, West and East Africa, South & Central Asia, South-East Asia and selected South American markets.
Click a cluster to reveal cities
54
Active Hubs
5
Regional Clusters
96+
Countries Covered
Region
Eastern Europe
Region
Africa
Region
South & Central Asia
Region
South-East Asia
Client Voices
Access to working capital is often the difference between capturing an opportunity and missing it. White Whale consistently helps us secure inventory, manage cash flow and execute transactions efficiently across international markets. Their financial flexibility creates a real competitive advantage.
Some markets require more than a distributor list — they require relationships, persistence and an understanding of how business is actually done on the ground. White Whale helped us regain access to a market we had effectively lost and transformed a challenge into a new growth opportunity.
White Whale plays a critical role in enabling trade across North Africa. Their ability to structure halal-compliant financing solutions, secure reliable supply chains and connect international manufacturers with regional distributors has created opportunities that would otherwise remain inaccessible. They are a trusted long-term partner in every sense of the word.
Access to working capital is often the difference between capturing an opportunity and missing it. White Whale consistently helps us secure inventory, manage cash flow and execute transactions efficiently across international markets. Their financial flexibility creates a real competitive advantage.
Some markets require more than a distributor list — they require relationships, persistence and an understanding of how business is actually done on the ground. White Whale helped us regain access to a market we had effectively lost and transformed a challenge into a new growth opportunity.
About the Founder
Jonas Smietana founded White Whale GmbH in Vienna in 2023 after more than ten years in international FMCG sales, export development and strategic sourcing.
Today, White Whale helps manufacturers and distributors unlock opportunities across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and alternative channels worldwide.
