DB Schenker, the DB Group’s international logistics subsidiary, continued to deliver strong performance, raising revenues by 2.3% compared with the first six months of 2018.
Schenker achieved above-average growth in Europe and the Americas, and Schenker is steadily expanding its business, particularly in the USA and Latin America. The key market segments include industrial and consumer goods, healthcare and the automotive industry, but above all the rapidly growing electronics industry.
Volume developed positively in land transport and ocean freight. Due to the tense market situation, the volume of airfreight declined significantly. However, the economic development was quite pleasing: The operating earnings figures developed significantly positively as a result of an increase in earnings. Gross profit also increased, most notably in contract logistics. The gross profit margin improved as well.
Performance at DB Cargo continued to decline. This resulted from the current situation in Central Europe. Operating performance remained at approximately the level of the first half of the year 2018 and the volume of goods carried, transport performance and train utilisation declined.
The outlook for the German freight transport market has weakened compared to previous expectations. Above all, due to the expected weak development in the steel, chemical / mineral oil and automotive sectors, which are important for rail freight transport, the year-on-year level is expected to be only slightly exceeded in the year as a whole.
