Transport and logistics company Gebrüder Weiss posted an 18 per cent year-on-year increase in turnover in fiscal 2022, to €3.01 billion.

The company’s Air & Sea division closed fiscal 2022 with sales at €1,272 million, an increase of 24 per cent compared to 2021. This was driven mainly by the high freight charges of the shipping companies and airlines. DPD Austria, which is partly owned by the Gebrüder Weiss parcel service, was able to sustain its volumes: in 2022 it shipped 66 million parcels (slightly down on the 66.5 million of 2021).

“We have succeeded in adhering to and advancing our strategic goals in a challenging environment,” said Gebrüder Weiss’ CEO Wolfram Senger-Weiss. “We have expanded our position in the core markets of Central and Eastern Europe, the US and Asia, while moving forward with our focuses on digitalisation and climate neutrality by 2030. The rewarding results across our divisions are proof positive that we are a solid organisation that is fit for the future.”

The company’s equity ratio also rose and has been restored to its previous level of 60 per cent (2021: 57 per cent).

Senger-Weiss said Gebrüder Weiss also advanced its digitalisation strategy in 2022. This included the next stage in the rollout of the digital service portal ‘myGW’, which delivers real-time information as to the exact whereabouts of customers’ goods. “Our goal is to give our customers the best solutions for their supply chains, while confining our environmental impact to a minimum,” he said. “Toward that end, we are constantly investing in our logistics terminals and digital tools, while simultaneously training our staff and identifying environmentally friendly transport options.”

Gebrüder Weiss said it anticipated a “renormalisation of the logistics industry” in 2023. Shipment numbers are currently declining somewhat, and the cost of transport by air and sea has dropped to 2019 levels, it said, with lower sales expected as a result.

Global geopolitical factors may bring additional challenges, according to Senger-Weiss. “The pandemic has proven that the logistics industry can perform under pressure and react swiftly to changing conditions,” he noted. “In the past year, Gebrüder Weiss has been able to further solidify its financial base and drive innovations – while remaining close to our customers and answering their needs with relevant digital services. In light of the current economic forecast, the high inflation rate and the war in Ukraine, we are – needless to say – circumspect and concerned. However, ultimately we remain a strong organisation and that gives us confidence.”