Volume increases and high freight rates bring Dachser record figures
In the 2021 financial year, the logistics group Dachser increased its consolidated revenue by 26.0 percent to EUR 7.1 billion. Following the previous year's sideways step due to the lockdown, the company is returning to growth.
Record growth. Air and sea freight alone increased by 78.3 percent. (Image: Dachser)
In 2021, the international logistics group Dachser generated more than 7 billion euros in revenue for the first time. The past financial year was an exceptional one in many respects, with volume increases and high freight rates generating record growth. Air and sea freight alone increased by 78.3 percent. Organic shipment and tonnage increases of 6.3 and 7.7 percent, respectively, at Group level were responsible for the positive annual results. High freight prices, caused by the shortage of cargo space across all modes of transport, completed the jump in sales. Dachser Switzerland generated net sales of 128.8 million Swiss francs in fiscal year 2021 (2020: 99.05 million Swiss francs). This corresponds to an increase of 30 percent. In 2021, Dachser Switzerland transported 621,000 consignments weighing 264,800 tons.
High freight rates in many business areas
The Road Logistics business field, in which Dachser combines the transport and warehousing of industrial and consumer goods (European Logistics) as well as food (Food Logistics), grew by 12.3 percent to EUR 4.99 billion in revenue in 2021. After the lockdowns in Southern Europe had caused a 2.2 percent decline in revenue in 2020, the result is also a significant increase compared with the pre-Corona year 2019.
The European Logistics business line increased its sales strongly by 13.1 percent and recorded sales of 3.92 billion euros. After several years of stagnation, shipment figures increased significantly by 6.8 percent to 72.0 million, and tonnages by as much as 8.5 percent to 30.0 million. All regional business units - Germany, North Central Europe, France & Maghreb, and Iberia - increased their revenue in the double-digit range.
Supply chain disruptions, tight freight capacities and correspondingly high rates characterized business in air and sea freight in 2021. As a result of this development, the Air & Sea Logistics business segment achieved record revenue growth of 78.3 percent. Shipments there increased by 9.1 percent and tonnages by as much as 20.9 percent. The further expansion of air freight charters into a network of regular services between Asia, Europe, and North America proved particularly successful. Dachser operated a total of 230 charter flights in 2021.
Acting strategically and with an eye to the future
Volatile and challenging market conditions continue to prevail in 2022. The war in Ukraine is causing extreme human suffering. It will also leave deep scars on the economy worldwide. Added to this are historically high energy and fuel costs, a further worsening of the driver shortage, and ongoing disruptions in global supply chains, including COVID-19 outbreaks, as recently seen in China and Hong Kong.
Nevertheless, Dachser is continuing to invest in logistics facilities, digital technologies, and equipment. After around 100 million euros in 2021, around 200 million euros are planned for 2022. "This includes lighthouse projects such as our fully automated high-bay warehouse in Memmingen for 52,000 pallets, which will go into operation in October," explains Dachser CEO Burkhard Eling. "In addition, we are investing substantially in digitization, climate protection measures, and, in particular, our employees, because logistics is and will remain a business done by people for people." In 2021, Dachser hired an additional 1,000 people worldwide, and approximately 2,200 young people are currently undergoing training at Dachser worldwide. Dachser Switzerland is currently present at seven locations and employs 292 people.
