Sharp rise in transport volume with Hapag-Lloyd in 2017
Hapag-Lloyd achieved a significantly higher operating result (EBIT) for the full year 2017. Based on the preliminary unaudited figures, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) climbed to EUR 1,055 million (2016: EUR 607 million) and the operating result before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased significantly to EUR 411 million (2016: EUR 126 million) in 2017. The EBITDA margin grew to 10.6 per cent compared to 7.9 per cent in 2016.
“Besides a positive development of the worldwide container transport volume and a slight recovery of freight rates, this development was mainly driven by the merger with the United Arab Shipping Company Ltd. (UASC).“, reads a press release of the container shipping company.
Revenues increased to EUR 10 billion (2016: EUR 7.7 billion), also supported by an improved average freight rate in 2017 of 1,051 USD/TEU (2016: 1,036 USD/TEU). At the same time, Hapag-Lloyd increased the transport volume significantly by 29 per cent to 9.8 million TEU (2016: 7.6 million TEU) whilst transport expenses increased by 25.5 per cent to EUR 8 billion (2016: EUR 6.4 billion), mainly driven by the increase in transport volumes and a higher average bunker consumption price of USD 318/tonne (2016: USD 226/tonne).
With a fleet of 215 modern container ships and a total transport capacity of 1.6 million TEU, Hapag-Lloyd is one of the world’s leading liner shipping companies. The company has around 12,000 employees and over 420 offices in 126 countries, and has a container capacity of 2.3 million TEU – including one of the largest and most modern fleets of reefer containers. A total of 125 liner services worldwide ensure fast and reliable connections between more than 600 ports on all the continents.