The sea freight specialist Röhlig significantly expanded its business to 290,000 TEU in the previous year, but had to accept lower profit margins.
Bremen-based freight forwarding and logistics group Röhlig Logistics stepped up its efforts to expand its global freight business last year. Cargo volumes in sea and air freight grew at double-digit rates and thus faster than the market as a whole. However, the company, which has 2,700 employees in over 30 countries, had to accept a decline in the profit margin per order.
While gross profit (sales less customs duties, taxes, transport and handling costs) climbed by 5% to € 229 million thanks to higher volumes, operating profit (EBIT) shrank by around 10% to € 17.5 million due to the higher workload.
Philip Herwig, Managing Partner of Röhlig Logistics, is nevertheless satisfied. In a challenging market environment, the company “once again achieved a strong result” and was able to expand its business with major customers.
Röhlig increases sea freight business
In the sea freight business (FCL), the Group reportedly increased its cargo volume by +14% to 290,000 TEU – more than twice as much as the market growth in container traffic last year. Air freight volumes grew by +13% to 119,000 tons. From Herwig’s perspective, the figures underline the positive start to the “Connected for growth” strategy program launched last year.
After entering the Brazilian and Japanese markets in the previous year, Röhlig expanded into Canada and Ireland in 2024. The service provider has also expanded its warehouse and handling areas in Thailand and Malaysia, and a new logistics center near Melbourne is set to open in the spring. (mph)
