TNT research shows CO2 emission levels can be reduced by 25%
TNT initiative aims to change driving behaviour, reduce costs and encourage more fuel efficient and safer driving.
Read MoreTag: Netherlands
TNT opens first "green" depot in the Netherlands
TNT is today opening its first CO2 emission-free depot in Veenendaal, the Netherlands. The official opening is to be attended by Harry Koorstra, member of TNT’s Board of Management and Group Managing Director Mail The depot is the first in a series of “green” buildings to be used by TNT as part of its worldwide environmental programme, Planet Me. The global mail and express delivery company aims to cut the CO2 emissions of all of its buildings, totalling three million square metres of real estate in over sixty-five countries.
The building produces its own energy in a sustainable way. More than 300 solar panels collect sunlight and convert it into energy.
The depot was designed in close collaboration with the VolkerWessels construction company. TNT required the building to be CO 2 neutral in operation.
The combination of techniques and measures in one business site allows energy savings of over 70 per cent compared with a traditional depot. VolkerWessels expects other end users of sustainable business premises to choose the same solutions. TNT’s green depot has been operational since mid-October and functions as a mail distribution centre for Veenendaal and its surroundings.
TNT N.V. publish 2008 third quarter results
Express
– Operational revenue growth 5.9 pct
– Premium (air) volumes in Europe under increasing pressure in the quarter
– International Economy and Special Services products good revenue growth
– Good performance Emerging Platforms
– Operating income down 21.5 pct at constant fx
– Cost savings programmes aggressively being implemented
Mail
– Continued strong operational revenue growth Emerging Mail & Parcels
– Mail operating profit in line with outlook
Group
– Group in strong financial position, capital requirements substantially refinanced in August
– Net cash from operating activities YTD Q3 up 8.8 pct
Outlook
– Outlook Express revised downward
– Outlook Mail reaffirmed
CEO Peter Bakker comments: “As we had already highlighted in our October 16 trading update the conditions in our European Express business have significantly worsened in September and the first weeks of October. Air volumes in September were down an unprecedented 10 pct, while Road volumes were showing low growth. We expect this pressure on volumes to persist at least in the current quarter.
On the positive side the Mail business has performed in line with our outlook. Also we refinanced our capital requirements in August, ahead of the deepening of the financial crisis in September and October. This, coupled with our robust cash flow, leaves us on a solid financial footing.
In these times management focus on efficient operations is even more essential. Our Master plans in Mail continue successfully, we are aggressively implementing the announced € 125 million cost optimisation programme in Express, we focus on improving air network efficiencies and we target all other cost areas for savings as well. At our analyst meeting on 4 December 2008, we will provide further details in this respect.”
FedEx eyes growth markets and new products
FedEx Express will continue to invest in growth markets in Europe and in broadening its portfolio of services, and has no plans to scale back in the region due to the worldwide economic situation.
While FedEx already had a strong position in the intercontinental market, it had also started to move into domestic markets such as in the UK and India, Robert Elliott, FedEx Express President, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Indian subcontinent, said. In addition, the US group had made acquisitions in the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary in recent years. “We expect more customers to be looking towards the east,” he commented. FedEx would also look more closely at emerging markets such as Turkey and the Middle East, he added.
Michael Mühlberger, FedEx Express Vice President Operations Central and Eastern Europe, said FedEx was seeing growth in Central and Eastern Europe countries as they generated more imports and exports, while it also aimed to expand its cooperation with its agent in Russia.
Read MoreIntegrator shares rocked by financial sector turbulence
Shares of Deutsche Post World Net, TNT, UPS and FedEx have been hit dramatically in recent weeks by the turbulence in world financial markets but also by clear signs of a slowdown in the international express business. The outlook for the forthcoming weeks and months remains uncertain.
Since the start of September, TNT shares have fallen nearly 40pct, DPWN shares have dropped 37pct, FedEx shares are down 20pct and UPS has declined 19.5pct, according to CEP-Research analysis. Since the start of 2008, DPWN is down 57pct, TNT is down 44.9pct, UPS has fallen 25.3pct and FedEx has dropped 23.1pct.
“Integrator shares have clearly been impacted by the general slump on the world stock exchanges. But investors also appear nervous about how the economic slowdown will affect the express and parcel sector,” commented Mark Winkelmann, managing partner of ITA Consulting, the CEP-Research parent company. “There are certainly widespread indications of customers downtrading from expensive air express services to cheaper and slower economy products. It is unclear however whether this is a short-term or a longer-term trend.”
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