Container segment
in € million |
2018 |
2017 |
Change |
|||
Revenue |
758.9 |
746.6 |
1.7 % |
|||
EBITDA |
209.8 |
194.7 |
7.7 % |
|||
EBITDA margin in % |
27.6 |
26.1 |
1.5 pp |
|||
EBIT |
131.6 |
109.4 |
20.3 % |
|||
EBIT margin in % |
17.3 |
14.7 |
2.6 pp |
|||
Container throughput in thousand TEU |
7,336 |
7,196 |
1.9 % |
During the 2018 reporting year, the volume development at HHLA’s container terminals increased slightly by 1.9 % to 7,336 thousand TEU (previous year: 7,196 thousand TEU).
The three Hamburg container terminals were almost able to match the strong prior-year figures with container throughput of 6,885 thousand TEU or - 0.3 % (previous year: 6,904 thousand TEU). Despite the loss of a South America service halfway through 2018 as part of the realignment of the shipping consortia, overseas traffic volumes remained stable with growth of 0.4 %. This was largely attributable to the 4.6 % increase in Asian traffic (Far East–Northern Europe) over the previous year. However, this was not sufficient to fully offset the 2.3 % decline in feeder traffic with the Baltic region. The proportion of seaborne handling by feeders decreased correspondingly to 24.0 % (previous year: 24.5 %).
Container throughput
in thousand TEU
Throughput at the international container terminals in Tallinn, Estonia, and Odessa, Ukraine, during the reporting period was 451 thousand TEU (previous year: 292 thousand TEU). It should be noted, that the figures for the previous year are only partly comparable as the container terminal in Tallinn was only integrated into the HHLA consolidated group at the end of the second quarter of 2018.
Revenue increased by 1.7 % year-on-year to € 758.9 million (previous year: € 746.6 million) and thus lagged slightly behind the rise in seaborne volumes. The share of local cargo increased, especially higher-margin, rail-bound throughput. After the temporary increase in storage fees of the past two years due to the realignment of shipping alliances, fees returned to their normal levels in 2018. Revenue generated by the international terminals came under pressure from competition. However, these negative effects were almost fully offset by the slightly decrease in the proportion of lower-margin feeder traffic and adjustments to individual handling rates. The average revenue per container handled at the quayside dipped slightly by 0.3 % year-on-year in the 2018 financial year.
EBIT costs for the segment decreased by 1.5 % in the 2018 financial year due to the absorption in the previous year of expenses for the organisational restructuring and harmonisation of pension systems amounting to around € 25 million. Adjusted for this effect, EBIT costs were 2.5 % higher than in the previous year. The main reasons for this were higher personnel expenses due to increased headcount following the integration of HHLA TK Estonia AS, union tariff rises in June 2018 and increased energy costs. The operating result (EBIT) improved strongly by 20.3 % to € 131.6 million (previous year: € 109.4 million). The EBIT margin rose by 2.6 percentage points to 17.3 % (previous year: 14.7 %).
During the reporting year, HHLA made further investments to ensure the future viability of its facilities. The main focus was on sustainable handling equipment and the promotion of transport by rail. Diesel-powered automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) at the Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA) were replaced by battery-powered AGVs, which are practically emission-free. The rail station at the Container Terminal Buchardkai (CTB) was expanded from eight to ten platforms and equipped with two new rail-mounted gantry cranes. Additional storage areas will be developed at the Container Terminal Odessa (CTO).
In maritime logistics, a terminal is a facility where freight transported by various modes of transport is handled.
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.
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.
Vessels which carry smaller numbers of containers to ports. From Hamburg, feeders are primarily used to transport boxes to the Baltic region.
Revenue from sales or lettings and from services rendered, less sales deductions and VAT.
Earnings before interest and taxes.
Payments for investments in property, plant and equipment, investment property and intangible assets.
In maritime logistics, a terminal is a facility where freight transported by various modes of transport is handled.
Crane units spanning their working area like a gantry, often operating on rails. Also called a storage crane when used at a block storage facility, or a rail gantry crane when used to handle rail cargo.