“In terms of results, 2014
was undoubtedly an extremely disappointing year,” said Hapag-Lloyd
CEO Rolf Habben Jansen, as the group reported a net result of EUR -603.7
million (previous year: -97.4 million).
“At the same time, however, the successful merger
with CSAV also made it a highly significant, ground-breaking year for
Hapag-Lloyd.
“We are now much more competitive and fit for
the future, to which we are looking with optimism.”
Hapag-Lloyd’s transport volume grew by 7.5 percent to 5.9 million
TEU in 2014.
Average freight rate was down 3.2 percent year-on-year
at USD 1,434/TEU, while revenue rose by 3.7 percent to EUR 6.8 billion.
EBITDA came to EUR 98.9 million (previous year: EUR
389.1 million) and the operating result to EUR -112.1 million (previous
year: EUR 67.2 million).
Looking ahead with Hamburg Su_d, CMA CGM and other shipping
companies, Hapag-Lloyd says it will unveil new products between Asia and
the western and eastern coasts of Latin America from July onwards. These
services will employ over 50 ships in all, with Hapag- Lloyd contributing
20 of them.
This includes CSAV’s seven efficient 9,300-TEU newbuildings.
Five from this series are already in service, with the
final two set for delivery in early May and early June.
“The merger with CSAV marks the opening of a new
chapter in Hapag-Lloyd’s 168-year history. We are now looking ahead
and focusing our efforts on returning Hapag-Lloyd to profitability and
achieving a clearly positive operating result in 2015,” Habben Jansen
concluded. |
