Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG: HHLA Records Revenue Growth and Strong Earnings

Half-Year Figures 2017
HHLA Records Revenue Growth and Strong Earnings

- Increase of approximately 12 percent in container throughput and just over 7 percent in container transport

- Chairwoman of the Executive Board, Angela Titzrath: "HHLA's customers generate growth at the Port of Hamburg"

- Executive Board updates its forecast for Group EBIT, expecting a range between EUR 150 million and EUR 170 million including possible one-off expenses

Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) recorded significant year-on-year growth in its key performance indicators in the first half of 2017. Group revenue rose by almost 9 percent to EUR 622.8 million. While the Group's operating result (EBIT) climbed by approximately 48 percent to EUR 98.8 million, the Port Logistics subgroup's EBIT grew by just over 54 percent to EUR 90.6 million. This was primarily attributable to higher earnings in the Container segment due to an increase in volumes as well as to the successfully completed restructuring in the Logistics segment, which let to one-off expenses in the first half of 2016. Throughput at the HHLA container terminals stood at 3.6 million standard containers (TEU) - some 12 percent higher than in the first six months of last year. The Intermodal subsidiaries also achieved volume growth of approxi­mately 7 percent to more than 744,000 TEU.

Commenting on the positive course of business in the first half, Angela Titzrath, Chairwoman of HHLA's Executive Board, said, "Following the reorganisation of the alliances of the shipping companies, HHLA managed to maintain its strong position in contested market environments. We are not just benefiting from ongoing positive economic developments in the world and in Germany; we are also profiting from our own service capability. HHLA took timely steps to prepare for this upswing by making targeted investments in our facilities. This means we can offer our customers a range of services that offer a high level of quality and reliability, and thus generate growth at the Port of Hamburg with them."

Asian Routes and Feeder Traffic Drive Container Throughput
In the first half of 2017, throughput at HHLA's container terminals was up almost 12 percent on the first six months of the previous year at 3.6 million TEU. Throughput increased by 11.8 percent to 3.4 million TEU at the three container terminals in Hamburg (previous year: 3.1 million TEU). This growth was primarily driven by a recovery on Asian routes (+ 16.1 %) and significant increase in feeder traffic with the Baltic Sea ports (+ 22.4 %). Container throughput at the terminal in Odessa also developed positively in the first half of 2017. At more than 145,000 TEU, it was approximately 10 percent higher than one year earlier (previous year: more than 132,000 TEU). Revenue in the Container segment rose by 10.6 percent to EUR 372.3 million (previous year: EUR 336.6 million). At 25.8 percent, growth in the operating result (EBIT) outperformed the rise in volumes, taking it to EUR 68.1 million (previous year: EUR 54.2 million).

Intermodal Companies Successful on the Rails and the Roads
HHLA's Intermodal companies recorded significant growth in a highly competitive market. They increased their transport volumes to more than 744,000 TEU (previous year: more than 694,000 TEU). This development was driven by growth in both rail and road transport. Compared to the first half of 2016, rail transportation rose again by 5.9 percent to more than 568,000 TEU (previous year: approximately 537,000 TEU). Road transport also developed very positively with growth of 11.8 percent to more than 176,000 TEU (previous year: approximately 158,000 TEU) as a result of strong freight volumes in the metropolitan area of Hamburg. Revenue in the Intermodal segment grew by 8.1 percent to EUR 206.2 million (previous year: EUR 190.8 million). The operating result (EBIT) rose compared to the same period last year to EUR 34.9 million (previous year: EUR 33.7 million).

HHLA on Course to Achieve Updated EBIT Forecast for 2017
HHLA's Executive Board has updated its forecast for the 2017 financial year in view of the positive developments in the Container segment and the persistently upbeat economic outlook. A Group operating result (EBIT) within a range between EUR 150 million and EUR 170 million is now anticipated, while the EBIT of the Port Logistics subgroup is expected to be within a range between EUR 135 and EUR 155 million, both including possible one-off expenses of up to EUR 15 million for reorganisation in the Container segment. Previously, the Group's EBIT was expected to be in the upper half of a range between EUR 140 million and EUR 170 million, while the guidance for the Port Logistics subgroup was in the upper half of a range between EUR 125 and EUR 155 million, both excluding possible one-off expenses of up to EUR 15 million.

Key Figures HHLA Group ¹

Key Figures Port Logistics Subgroup ^1,2,3

¹ The prior-year earnings include one-off expenses of EUR 14.9 million from the restructuring of project and contract logistics
² Before consolidation between subgroups
³ Listed Class A shares