DHL storms ahead with 79% operating profit jump
DEUTSCHE Post’s logistics division DHL has shown strong performance in the first nine months of 2005, with a 15.6% increase in turnover to €5.7bn ($6.6bn) and operating profits of € 221m, up 79.7% year-on-year.
‘We have consistently and successfully continued our global strategy and after completing the acquisition of Exel we will be the leading logistics provider worldwide,’ chief executive Klaus Zumwinkel said.
Of the logistics division’s turnover, DP’s freight business DHL Danzas Air ‘ Ocean contributed some € 4.1bn, up 14.1%.
Air freight volumes increased by 6.3% to 1.675m tonnes, ocean freight by 11.2% to 920,000 teu. The latter had been accompanied by rising freight rates, the company said. DP’s logistics division DHL Solutions made for €1.6bn, up 20.2%.
Operating profits for the whole group including mail and banking activities increased by 19.9% to €2.4bn. Turnover rose by 2.5% to €32.5bn year-on-year.
Net profits leaped 51% to around €1.3bn. ‘Our operating business has recorded encouraging overall growth, and we are confident that this trend will continue during the remaining months of this year,’ chief financial officer Edgar Ernst added.
DP reiterated its full-year forecast of operating profits of at least €3.6bn.