Hapag-Lloyd closed the first quarter of 2019 with a significantly higher operating profit as Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased to EUR 214 million (Q1 2018: EUR 51 million).
The Group net result increased to EUR 96 million (Q1 2018: EUR -34 million). Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose to EUR 489 million (Q1 2018: EUR 216 million), also impacted by the first-time application of the reporting standard IFRS 16.
“Thanks to higher transport volumes, better freight rates and a stronger US dollar, we achieved a good result and got the year off to a very decent start,” said Rolf Habben Jansen, Chief Executive Officer of Hapag-Lloyd
Revenues in the first quarter increased by 17% to EUR 3.1 billion (Q1 2018: EUR 2.6 billion) and transport volume rose 2% to 2,929 TTEU (Q1 2018: 2,861 TTEU). The average freight rate improved to 1,079 USD/TEU (Q1 2018: 1,029 USD/TEU), and the result was also positively influenced by a stronger average exchange rate of 1.14 USD/EUR (Q1 2018: 1.23 USD/EUR). In contrast, higher bunker prices of USD 425 per tonne had a negative impact on the quarterly result (Q1 2018: USD 372 per tonne).
Rolf Habben Jansen: “We are cautiously optimistic about 2019 despite slightly dampened forecasts for global economic growth and higher fuel prices. Q1 was in line with our expectations and we believe we can make further progress towards our strategic objectives throughout the rest of the year as we continue to roll-out and implement our Strategy 2023.”
