HHLA group (Hamburg) gains market share in the North Range

Port logistics enterprise HHLA posts record growth in throughput and transport in the first quarter of 2011

Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) made a "skyrocket start" in the first quarter of 2011. With increases of 32 per cent in container throughput and 20.1 per cent in container transport, the enterprise achieved its strongest year-on-year growth for many years. Revenue rose by 22.3 per cent to EUR 289.8 million, while the operating result (EBIT) improved by 24.2 per cent to EUR 44 million. Commenting on publication of the interim report for the first three months of 2011, Klaus-Dieter Peters, CEO of HHLA, said: "The 2011 financial year got off to a remarkably successful start for us and we were able to further expand our market share in container throughput and container transport." He added: "Assuming the positive global economic trend seen in recent months remains stable, we now expect growth rates of well above 10 per cent in container volumes, revenue and earnings for the full year."

Container throughput at HHLA’s terminals in Hamburg increased substantially in the first three months of 2011, especially involving the shipping regions which had been hardest hit by the global economic crisis: Driven by strong European exports (growth of 40.5 per cent in container throughput destined for Asia), Asian traffic improved by 35.9 per cent, while the Far East and China shipping region recorded an even greater increase of 38.7 per cent. European feeder traffic grew still more rapidly, by 40.7 per cent. Feeder traffic serving the Eastern European Baltic ports – including Russia – experienced the sharpest upturn of 64.8 per cent on the previous year.

With growth of 20.1 per cent to a total of 454,000 TEU, HHLA’s intermodal companies transported 3.4 per cent more boxes by rail and road in the first quarter of 2011 than in the first three months of 2008, which was a record year for the company. This trend was driven in particular by the companies which offer integrated transport chains based on their own inland terminals and highly productive direct rail and shuttle services. This successful model is gradually being rolled out in other regions. In Poland, the centrally located new hub terminal in Poznán will open in summer 2011. The existing production systems used for rail transport in Germany, Austria and Switzerland are currently being converted in favour of a significantly higher proportion of direct rail services. Initial successes have already been achieved here from a low given basis, with increases of over 50 per cent in Austrian and Swiss traffic.