STINNES GROUP’S OPERATING PROFIT RISES BY 25%

STINNES GROUP’S OPERATING PROFIT RISES BY 25%    Stinnes, the parent company of Schenker, reported a group consolidated internal operating profit of 252 million euros ($223 million) for 2001, up 25 percent on the previous year.
   Stinnes said that the higher operating profit came mainly from its chemicals division and from Schenker’s European land transportation unit.
   The group’s transportation division posted an internal operating profit of 128 million euros ($113 million) in 2001, up from 100 million euros in 2000, on sales of 6.1 billion euros ($5.4 billion), up from 6 billion euros in 2000.
   The Stinnes group earned a net income of 136 million euros ($121 million) on sales of 12.3 billion euros ($10.9 billion).
   “In fiscal 2001, the Stinnes group achieved a record performance for the third year in a row despite the sluggish economy,” the company said.
   Last year, Stinnes integrated into the group newly-acquired HCI, a chemical logistics firm. Stinnes said that the acquisition of HCI made its chemical logistics subsidiary Brenntag “the world market leader in chemicals logistics.”
   In the current fiscal year, Stinnes said that it wants to focus its efforts on its transportation division.
   “The company plans to acquire logistics businesses — primarily in the United States — with a view to increasing its share of higher-margin services,” Stinnes said. In addition, the German group wants to continue to optimize its European land transportation network, especially in France, Spain and the U.K.
   “In the field of air and sea freight, Stinnes wants to strengthen its position on the transpacific routes,” the group said.