23. Property, Plant and Equipment

The additions to assets are largely the result of the expansion of container terminals in Hamburg and the acquisition of locomotives by the HHLA subsidiary METRANS.

Disposals in the financial year under review mainly relate to the sale of land in Poland.

The changes to the consolidated group primarily concern METRANS Konténer Kft, which was included in the Consolidated Financial Statements for the first time as of 30 June 2015.

The negative effects of changes in exchange rates arose chiefly in connection with the devaluation of the Ukrainian currency.

Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment included impairment losses of € 2,981 thousand on land and buildings as well as on other plant, operating and office equipment. The prior-year figure (€ 1,240 thousand) related to servers and handling equipment.

Buildings, surfacing and movable non-current assets with a carrying amount of € 4,207 thousand (previous year: € 6,869 thousand) have been pledged as collateral in connection with loans taken up by the Group.

Regarding existing restrictions on the disposal and use of buildings in connection with the letting of the associated properties from the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, see the explanatory remarks on the lease agreements in Note 45.

As of the balance sheet date, the Group had obligations of € 87,978 thousand (previous year: € 52,440 thousand) from purchase commitments attributable to investments in property, plant and equipment.