Dachser Achieves Revenue of Over 7 Billion Euros for the First Time

In the fiscal year 2021, Dachser increased its consolidated revenue by 26.0 percent to 7.1 billion euros. After a lockdown-induced setback in the previous year, the logistics service provider is returning to a dynamic growth path. The positive annual balance was driven by organic increases in shipments and tonnage of 6.3 and 7.7 percent at the group level, respectively. High freight rates, caused by a cross-modal shortage of cargo space, completed the revenue jump.

“2021 was an exceptional year in many respects; there were extreme challenges to overcome,” explains Dachser CEO Burkhard Eling. “Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and global supply chains at breaking point shaped the year and caused great uncertainty among our customers. We managed to provide reliable logistics solutions even in this situation and maintain quality and service at a high level. This allowed us to bind customers more closely to us and specifically expand business with major customers. It was an extraordinary achievement that demanded everything from our teams given the difficult framework conditions.”

Business Development in Detail

The Business Field Road Logistics, 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 in 2021 to 4.99 billion euros in revenue. After the lockdowns in Southern Europe in 2020 caused a revenue decline of 2.2 percent, the result also represents a significant increase compared to the pre-COVID year 2019. The Business Line European Logistics increased its revenue strongly by 13.1 percent, achieving a revenue of 3.92 billion euros. After several years of stagnation, the number of shipments increased significantly by 6.8 percent to 72.0 million, and tonnage even rose by 8.5 percent to 30.0 million. All regional business units – Germany, North Central Europe, France & Maghreb, and Iberia – increased their revenues in double digits. Customer gains ensured that the Business Line Food Logistics achieved a revenue growth of 9.8 percent despite the COVID-related restrictions in the gastronomy and hotel industry in Germany. With a revenue of 1.07 billion euros, the billion mark was surpassed for the first time. Supply chain disruptions, tight freight capacities, and correspondingly high rates characterized the business in air and sea freight in 2021. As a result of this development, the Air & Sea Logistics business field achieved a record revenue growth of 78.3 percent. Shipments increased by 9.1 percent, and tonnage even rose by 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 conducted a total of 230 charter flights in 2021. “Reliably available cargo space gives customers planning security – and that was the key to success in 2021. Moreover, it has proven to be very advantageous that we can feed the goods from overseas directly into our own European land transport network for distribution and delivery,” explains Eling.

Acting Strategically and Future-Oriented

For the year 2022, a volatile and challenging market environment continues to emerge. The war in Ukraine is causing extreme human suffering. It will also leave deep scars on the economy worldwide. Additionally, historically high energy and fuel costs, a further tightening of the driver shortage, and ongoing disruptions in global supply chains, also due to COVID-19 outbreaks, as recently seen in China and Hong Kong, are compounding the situation. “We must prepare for another year in which crisis management, flexibility, and resilience regarding supply chains are required,” says Eling.

Further Investments in Logistics Facilities

Nevertheless, Dachser continues to invest future-oriented in logistics facilities, digital technologies, and equipment. After around 100 million euros in 2021, approximately 200 million euros are planned for 2022. “This includes flagship projects such as our fully automated high-bay warehouse in Memmingen for 52,000 pallets, which will go into operation in October,” explains Eling. “In addition, we are investing substantially in digitization, climate protection measures, and especially our employees, because logistics is and remains a business made by people for people.” In 2021, Dachser hired around 1,000 additional people worldwide, and about 2,200 young people are currently undergoing training at Dachser globally. The high equity ratio of around 60 percent provides strong support for Dachser’s investment policy.
Photo: © Dachser