Intermodal segment

Key figures

in € million

 

2018

 

2017

 

Change

Revenue

 

433.8

 

414.0

 

4.8 %

EBITDA

 

112.7

 

95.0

 

18.7 %

EBITDA margin in %

 

26.0

 

22.9

 

3.1 pp

EBIT

 

89.1

 

69.9

 

27.5 %

EBIT margin in %

 

20.5

 

16.9

 

3.6 pp

Container transport in thousand TEU

 

1,480

 

1,480

 

0.0 %

In the highly competitive market for container traffic in the of major seaports, the transport volumes of HHLA’s transport companies remained unchanged from the previous year at 1,480 thousand (). Within the segment, however, the trend was uneven. Rail transportation rose year-on-year by a further 2.5 % to 1,168 thousand TEU (previous year: 1,140 thousand TEU). In particular, there was above-average growth in connections between the north German seaports, the Adriatic ports and the Central and Eastern Europe hinterland. There was also a further increase in continental cargo volumes. Transport volumes in Poland decreased significantly as a result of the scheduled realignment of POLZUG activities. Due to a significant decrease in freight volume in the greater Hamburg area, road transport fell by 8.3 % year-on-year to 312 thousand  (previous year: 340 thousand TEU).

Container transport

in thousand TEU

Developments in container transport (bar chart)

With growth of 4.8 % to € 433.8 million (previous year: € 414.0 million), revenue performed much better than transport volumes. This positive trend resulted from a slight increase in rail’s share of HHLA’s total transportation from 77.0 % to 78.9 %, in combination with longer transport distances.

The operating result (EBIT) increased year-on-year to € 89.1 million (previous year: € 69.9 million). In addition to the positive trend in average revenues due to changes in the transport mix, the rise in was also attributable to lower depreciation and amortisation charges caused by an adjustment to the useful lives of container transport wagons. The in Budapest, which started operations in mid-2017, also had a positive impact on the efficiency of HHLA’s intermodal network. The EBIT margin rose by 3.6 percentage points to 20.5 % (previous year: 16.9 %).

HHLA continues to invest as needed in the expansion of its intermodal network. The decrease in route prices for German rail freight applied retroactively as of mid-2018 is bolstering the development of the service portfolio. HHLA’s rail subsidiary METRANS put ten new multi-system locomotives into operation during 2018. It now has 85 shunters and locomotives as well as a fleet of over 2,800 container wagons. The network consists of 14 terminals in the hinterland, of which five function as large .

In the past financial year, the activities of POLZUG (now METRANS Polonia) were fully integrated into the METRANS organisation. By pooling activities, the company was able to streamline its structures and processes, thereby enabling synergies to be realised. During the reporting period, HHLA also increased its stake in METRANS a.s., Prague, Czech Republic, and now holds 100 % of shares in the company.

Hinterland

A port’s catchment area.

Standard Container

A TEU is a 20-foot standard container, used as a unit for measuring container volumes. A 20-foot standard container is 6.06 metres long, 2.44 metres wide and 2.59 metres high.

TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit)

A TEU is a 20-foot standard container, used as a unit for measuring container volumes. A 20-foot standard container is 6.06 metres long, 2.44 metres wide and 2.59 metres high.

TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit)

A TEU is a 20-foot standard container, used as a unit for measuring container volumes. A 20-foot standard container is 6.06 metres long, 2.44 metres wide and 2.59 metres high.

Revenue

Revenue from sales or lettings and from services rendered, less sales deductions and VAT.

Intermodal/Intermodal Systems

Transportation via several modes of transport (water, rail, road) combining the specific advantages of the respective carriers.

EBIT

Earnings before interest and taxes.

Terminal

In maritime logistics, a terminal is a facility where freight transported by various modes of transport is handled.

Intermodal/Intermodal Systems

Transportation via several modes of transport (water, rail, road) combining the specific advantages of the respective carriers.

Hub Terminal (Hinterland)

A terminal which bundles and distributes consignments as a handling hub. HHLA’s rail companies operate hub terminals like this in Ceska Trebova, Budapest, Dunajska Streda, Poznan and Prague.