German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd posted a net loss for 2014 of EUR603.7 million, a considerable dip from EUR97.4 million loss in 2013.
The company said that its result was heavily influenced by one-off effects, primarily the costs of acquiring and integrating CSAV’s container liner shipping activities and an impairment recognized for a portfolio of old ships.
The plummeting price of oil eased the cost situation slightly, but only towards the end of the year as falling fuel prices at liner shipping companies take several months to be reflected in the figures. The average bunker consumption price for 2014 as a whole stood at USD575/t (previous year: USD613/t).
“In terms of results, 2014 was undoubtedly an extremely disappointing year. At the same time, however, the successful merger with CSAV also made it a highly significant, ground-breaking year for Hapag-Lloyd. We are now much more competitive and fit for the future, to which we are looking with optimism,” said Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen.
The merger is estimated to bring annual savings of at least USD300 million.
“Integrating CSAV’s container business is running on schedule. We have already been able to exploit the first synergies, with many joint projects currently under way,” the company’s CEO added.
Incorporation of CSAV’s services into Hapag-Lloyd’s global network is set to be complete by June.
The company said that its transport volume grew by 7.5% to 5.9 million TEU in the past financial year. The average freight rate was down 3.2% year-on-year at USD1,434/TEU, while revenue rose by 3.7% to EUR6.8 billion.
EBITDA came to EUR98.9 million compared to EUR389.1 million in 2013 and the operating result to EUR112.1 million loss compared to EUR67.2 million in 2013.
The merger with CSAV’s container business and the associated capital measures have improved Hapag-Lloyd’s capital structure. Equity of EUR4.2 billion and an equity ratio of 41.2% are testament to the Company’s healthy balance sheet. With a liquidity reserve of over EUR920 million, the Company is well positioned for the future.
Habben Jansen said that the company is also undertaking activities aimed at modernizing its fleet, adding that Hapag-Lloyd is currently in negotiations with several shipyards in this regard and will be ordering new ships over the coming weeks.
Hapag-Lloyd said that together with Hamburg Süd, CMA CGM and other shipping companies, it will be offering new products between Asia and the western and eastern coasts of Latin America from July onwards. These services will employ over 50 ships in all, with Hapag-Lloyd contributing 20 of them. This includes CSAV’s seven efficient 9,300 TEU newbuildings. Five from this series are already in service, with the final two set to be delivered in early May and early June.
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