DB Schenker: Contract logistics is the growth driver in SEE

For Q Logistics GmbH, which is facing a fundamental reorientation, a potential partner for a holding or complete takeover is out of the race. DB Schenker Austria has no interest in becming involved in the company. The company was not attractive enough, said Alexander Winter, CEO of DB Schenker in Austria and Southeastern Europe, at the presentation of the balance sheet in Vienna in 2018.

DB Schenker, as Cluster Office for Southeastern Europe, based in Vienna, is responsible for Austria and 12 countries in Southeastern Europe with 7,700 employees (Austria: 1,700 employees) . The 2018 balance sheet for Austria and Southeastern Europe shows sales of around EUR 1.42 billion (Austria: EUR 620 million). Thus, the record result of the previous year was just missed, announced CFO Michael Meyer.

In contract logistics, DB Schenker posted total revenues of EUR 152 million in the Cluster Southeastern Europe in 2018, an increase of 10.4 per cent over the previous year. In Austria alone, an increase of 10.3 per cent to EUR 46 million was achieved.

In SEE, DB Schenker handled more than 11.5 million shipments – air and sea freight as well as land transport. This enabled the global logistics service provider to increase the number of shipments by 2.3 per cent compared to the previous year.

The investment volume in 2018 totaled around EUR 40.3 million. In Austria, the branches in Ried, St. Pölten, Röthis and Linz were expanded for a total of EUR 16.5 million. In Southeastern Europe, among other things, the location in Sofia
Bozhuriste was expanded for EUR 2.7 million in Bulgaria and in Bucharest the company moved to a new terminal with a total area of around 22,000 m².

In 2019, the company will continue its investments. In Austria, EUR 12.8 million will be invested in the expansion of the offices in Linz Hörsching by around 6,000 m², in Ried by 1,000 m² and in Klagenfurt by around 4,000 m². A total of around 40 million euros will be invested in the expansion of the terminals throughout the entire SEE area, including in Sarajevo, Zagreb and Belgrade.

The new digital booking platform enables customers of DB Schenker to independently carry out their bookings online. Currently, this is possible in Austria for maritime transport with “connect4ocean”. The booking systems for land transport “connect4land” and for air freight “connect4air”  will be launched shortly. With the online portal “eSchenker” the
company says it was the world’s first logistics service provider to offer an extensive 3D printing service.
www.dbschenker.com/at