Dachser revenues exceed €7bn for the first time

Airfreight charters helped German logistics company Dachser record a 78.3% jump in revenues at its Air and Sea Logistics unit to just over €2bn in 2021.

Total group annual revenues went above €7bn for the first time, a 20% increase over Covid-hit 2020, while the forwarder also warned of continuing volatility and challenges in 2022.

Dachser’s air and sea freight business was characterised by “supply chain disruptions, a shortage of freight capacity, and correspondingly high rates”, as shipment volumes rose by 9.1% and tonnage jumped 20.9%.

One “particular success” was the further expansion of airfreight charters to a network of regular transports between Asia, Europe, and North America. Dachser completed a total of 230 charters in 2021.

Dachser chief executive Burkhard Eling said: “Reliably available freight capacity gives customers planning certainty — and that was the key to our success in 2021.

“In addition, we were able to feed goods arriving from overseas directly into our own European overland transport network for distribution and delivery, which proved to be very advantageous.”

In its market outlook, Dachser said that volatility and challenges continue to shape the marketplace in 2022.

“The war in Ukraine is causing extreme human suffering and will also leave deep marks on the global economy. Then there are the record energy and fuel costs, the further exacerbation of the driver shortage, and persistent disruptions to global supply chains.

“This last is caused in part by further outbreaks of COVID-19 such as happened recently in China and Hong Kong.”

Eling added: “We must accept that we’re in for yet another year in which maintaining supply chains will require crisis management, flexibility, and resilience.”