Dachser on target for 5-billion-euro goal

   Dachser’s group revenue grew 3.7 percent, year over year, in 2012 to 4.41 billion euros ($5.7 billion), on the strength of 49.8 million handled shipments. 
   Based on its growth prospects and increased activity, company officials hope to surpass 5 billion euros in revenue for the first time this year. The latest numbers show Dachser is on course to achieve that goal, according to a press release.
   The company’s European logistics offshoot, which represents the largest portion of its business, saw a slight uptick in 2012, rising from 2.625 billion euros in revenue to 2.661 billion euros.  Revenues for the food sector rose 13.2 percent, year over year. Air and sea logistics generated 7.4 percent more revenue than in 2011, while adding two new locations in Malaysia and Vietnam to the network.
   Bernhard Simon, head of Dachser’s managing board, added these positive numbers and prospects for growth come amid economic stability and a struggling air cargo industry.
   “The economic slowdown in Europe in the second half of the year was exacerbated by a weakening on the air freight routes to and from Asia,” he said in a statement. “Against this background, we succeeded in consolidating the organic growth of the previous years and maintained our stable position on the market.”
   In 2012, the company expanded to 347 branches worldwide. Recent acquisitions of Azkar and Transunion, both Spanish logistics firms, will help propel more growth, officials said.
   Transunion, a sea and air forwarder, will focus on Turkey, Argentina and Peru. The firm, with an average annual revenue of 95 million euros, already employs more than 200 workers in eight Spanish offices and six offices across Turkey and Latin America. According to an earlier interview with Dachser’s Martin Neft, Transunion’s management will stay in place, with a new five-person board at Dachser featuring two former Transunion leaders.
   Dachser’s Global 2.0 is targeting expansion to 49 countries, 220 offices and 5,000 employees by 2017. The growth, Neft said, will be achieved through mergers, joint ventures and organic expansion. – Jon Ross