DB Schenker reduces costs and invests briskly in SEE

Also in south-eastern Europe DB Schenker has to face extremely difficult market conditions resulting from the global financial and economic crisis. So far the forwarded volumes in the course of this year dropped by 12 per cent compared to the year 2008. Decline in tonnage was even more visible with 30 per cent. The decline in turnover amounts to about 25 per cent. Nonetheless Elmar Wieland, Chief Executive Officer at Schenker & Co AG in Vienna, gives a positive outlook for the total result of the year.

DB Schenker faces the current challenges with cost reductions, reinforced marketing and sales activities and the establishment of new services. In the course of the cost reductions 100 jobs in Austria and 200 in south-eastern Europe will be cut. In addition there are many initiatives to optimise purchase conditions and to minimise the administrative costs. Thanks to the sales initiatives the forwarding company was able to acquire new large-scale orders in the segments sea freight and warehousing logistics.

With a total investment of EUR 50 million DB Schenker will realise several projects in Austria and south-eastern Europe in 2009. This includes the expansion of the terminal at the Viennese port area Albern, the construction of the freight forwarding facility in Salzburg and the construction of a forwarding and logistics terminal offering 2,000 square metres for handling and 3,000 square metres for storage in Sofia.

Despite economical slumps in the fourth quarter, the fiscal year 2008 was a good one for DB Schenker in Austria and south-eastern Europe. “We reached all our targets and improved relevant key figures“, Elmar Wieland explained to the press. Turnover rose 11 per cent to EUR 1.715 billion. The operative result was clearly positive with EUR 43 million. With the takeover of the Romtrans Group (Bucharest), Schenker & Co AG implemented the largest acquisition in its company history.

Quelle: Österreichische Verkehrszeitung