The Polish branch of DHL Global Forwarding has summarized the year 2008. EBITA profit increased by 18% compared to the results of 2007. Last year, the revenues of the entire DHL Global Forwarding division grew by 12.5%, reaching 10.6 billion euros.
In air freight (AFR), DHL Global Forwarding transported over 45,000 shipments, strengthening its position as the leader of the air freight market in Poland. A double-digit (15%) increase in the number of AFR shipments compared to 2007 was achieved during a period when the air transport market was already recording significant declines in turnover, felt particularly in the largest Asian market.
In the ocean freight (OFR) segment, the company recorded a more than 100% increase in the number of full-container load (FCL) import shipments, with a simultaneous nearly 60% increase in their volume. The number and volume of less-than-container load (LCL) shipments also increased significantly in both imports and exports. Last year, DHL Global Forwarding transported 86% more LCL import shipments (nearly 3,800 shipments, the volume of which was 91.5% higher compared to 2007) and 15% more LCL export shipments (1,056 shipments with a 12.5% higher volume). The results achieved by DHL Global Forwarding in the OFR segment reflect the upward trend of the Polish market in terms of full-container transport.
– In the difficult year of 2008, DHL Global Forwarding achieved very good results. Our company coped perfectly with adapting its offer to the dynamically changing economic situation in strategic markets, thanks to which we have become even more competitive. – said Piotr Iwaniuk, President of the Management Board of DHL Global Forwarding. – I am particularly pleased with the growth we recorded in air freight from Asia, a direction that until now had not brought the assumed turnover. The special sales system for our services introduced in this direction will – I hope – continue to allow us to gain significant volumes, even in the era of crisis.
In 2008, DHL Global Forwarding gained several new, significant clients. Last year, it began providing air freight services for, among others, Flextronics, a contract manufacturer for companies in the electronics industry with its headquarters in Singapore, and ocean freight services for companies such as JYSK (a concern managing, among others, an international chain of home decor supermarkets), Dell, Smyk, and Altadis (a company from the tobacco industry, operating within the Imperial Tobacco Group).
For its clients, the company also carried out several non-standard orders. For a client from the energy and fuel industry, it chartered one of the largest transport aircraft in the world, the Antonov 124 “Ruslan”. For the cement plant in Ożarów, DHL Global Forwarding delivered a cargo weighing 111 tons, which, due to its dimensions, required the organization of combined transport, and also carried out the delivery of two rings weighing a total of 150 tons from Bilbao, Spain.
The past year also saw DHL Global Forwarding obtain the first AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) certificate in Poland, a document confirming compliance with all cargo safety and security standards and entitling the holder to use customs facilitations. The obtained certificate guarantees DHL Global Forwarding clients fewer physical customs inspections, and in the case of shipments selected for inspection – priority treatment, increasing the fluidity of customs clearance.
In 2009, DHL Global Forwarding intends to focus on further improving the quality of customer service, including by developing dedicated service processes and implementing advanced shipment tracking programs.