Dachser’s consolidated group net revenue totalled €5.61bn, down 0.9% compared to the year before.

“Following a solid first quarter, the lockdowns in many European countries meant sometimes drastic declines in overland transport shipments,” company CEO Burkhard Eling said in a statement. “There was a clear improvement by June, however, with volumes remaining more or less consistently above 2019 levels. Our business model has proved that it can withstand crises, at the same time boasting strong growth potential and adaptability.”

Consolidated net revenue of the road logistics unit dropped by 2.2% to around €4.5bn. “Even by the end of the year, it was impossible to fully compensate for lockdown-driven reductions in European volume in April and May, with the European logistics business units in France and on the Iberian Peninsula the hardest hit,” the company said.

Air and sea revenue meanwhile grew 5.2% to a total of €1.2bn, benefitting from shortages in freight capacity, and the corresponding rise in rates.

Benelux revenue grows

In the Benelux region, Dachser’s revenue grew 2.5% to reach €329m. Its Luxembourg branch processed 200,000 deliveries at a weight of 72,200 tonnes, representing revenue of €14m.

The Grevenmacher-based logistics hub celebrated its 10th anniversary on 7 February, growing from 18 employees and a 2,700m2 warehouse to 51 employees and 4,600m2 in storage space.

“Luxembourg enjoys a very strategic location, directly linked to the Dachser EuroHub in Überherrn, and therefore constitutes added value for the Dachser network,” said Aat van der Meer, the Benelux managing director. “We look forward to further expanding our services in Luxembourg as part of our Benelux network.”

After a global investment of €142.6m into its logistics network in 2020, the company plans to spend €190m this year.

This story was first published in French on Paperjam and has been translated and edited for Delano.