Container segment

Key figures

in € million

 

2020

 

2019

 

Change

Revenue

 

737.5

 

799.7

 

- 7.8 %

EBITDA

 

160.4

 

240.2

 

- 33.2 %

EBITDA margin in %

 

21.7

 

30.0

 

- 8.3 pp

EBIT

 

65.4

 

141.3

 

- 53.7 %

EBIT margin in %

 

8.9

 

17.7

 

- 8.8 pp

Container throughput in thousand TEU

 

6,776

 

7,577

 

- 10.6 %

During the 2020 reporting year, the throughput volume at HHLA’s container decreased significantly by 10.6 % to 6,776 thousand () (previous year: 7,577 thousand TEU).

The three Hamburg container terminals reported a strong decline in throughput volume of 11.1 % to 6,193 thousand TEU (previous year: 6,964 thousand ). Virtually all shipping regions were impacted by pandemic-related volume shortfalls. This is especially true for the Far East region, which is of particular importance for HHLA. The loss of a Far East service from mid-May 2020 onwards had a further adverse effect on the volume trend in this region. All in all, overseas volumes fell by 8.4 %. Moreover, traffic with the Baltic region decreased and could not be offset by growth in the German and British shipping regions. There was a corresponding decline in the proportion of seaborne handling by feeders of 2.3 percentage points to 20.2 % (previous year: 22.5 %).

Container throughput

in thousand TEU

Development in container throughput (bar chart)

Throughput at the international container terminals in Tallinn, Estonia, and Odessa, Ukraine, during the reporting period amounted to 584 thousand TEU (previous year: 613 thousand TEU). This represents a decline of 4.7 %.

Revenue decreased by 7.8 % year-on-year to € 737.5 million (previous year: € 799.7 million). This was mainly due to the pandemic-related decline in volumes. In the reporting period, average per container handled at the quayside increased moderately year-on-year by 4.3 %. This was mainly attributable to an advantageous modal split, particularly towards the end of the year, and a temporary increase in storage fees due to longer dwell times brought about by delays and blank sailings caused by the pandemic.

costs for the segment rose slightly by 2.1 % in the financial year. The increase was mainly due to the formation of provisions in connection with the implementation of restructuring measures as part of an efficiency programme. Adjusted for these provisions and subsidies of public authorities, EBIT costs would have fallen by 3.3 %.

The operating result (EBIT) decreased strongly by 53.7 %, or € 75.9 million, to € 65.4 million (previous year: € 141.3 million). A key factor here are the above mentioned net provisions of € 43 million in the fourth quarter for the implementation of restructuring measures as part of an efficiency programme. The EBIT margin fell by 8.8 percentage points to 8.9 % (previous year: 17.7 %).

During the reporting year, HHLA further improved the sustainability of its services by investing in climate-friendly handling equipment. For example, further energy-saving hybrid were ordered for the Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT) and Container Terminal Burchardkai (CTB), with the first devices already operational at CTT. Diesel-powered (AGVs) at Container Altenwerder (CTA) were replaced by battery-powered AGVs, which are practically emission-free. Operations at CTA are now also primarily powered by green electricity. Moreover, the company made major in the expansion of its facilities. In 2020, further went into operation at CTB, with further automated blocks added to the system. The international terminals in Tallinn and Odessa also acquired new handling equipment and drove the consistent expansion of their yard capacities.

Terminal

In maritime logistics, a terminal is a facility where freight transported by various modes of transport is handled.

Standard container

A TEU is a 20-foot standard container, used as a unit for measuring container volumes. A 20-foot standard container is 6.06 metres long, 2.44 metres wide and 2.59 metres high.

TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit)

A TEU is a 20-foot standard container, used as a unit for measuring container volumes. A 20-foot standard container is 6.06 metres long, 2.44 metres wide and 2.59 metres high.

TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit)

A TEU is a 20-foot standard container, used as a unit for measuring container volumes. A 20-foot standard container is 6.06 metres long, 2.44 metres wide and 2.59 metres high.

Feeder/Feeder ship

Vessels which carry smaller numbers of containers to ports. From Hamburg, feeders are primarily used to transport boxes to the Baltic region.

Revenue

Revenue from sales or lettings and from services rendered, less sales deductions and VAT.

EBIT

Earnings before interest and taxes.

Straddle carrier (also called a van carrier or VC)

A vehicle used to transport containers at the terminals. The driver manoeuvres their straddle carrier into position above a container and lifts it up. The vehicles can stack containers up to four high.

Automated guided vehicle (AGV)

A fully automatic, driverless transport vehicle which carries containers back and forth between the container gantry cranes on the quayside and the block storage yard at the HHLA Container Terminal Altenwerder.

Terminal

In maritime logistics, a terminal is a facility where freight transported by various modes of transport is handled.

Investments

Payments for investments in property, plant and equipment, investment property and intangible assets.

Container gantry crane

A crane system used to load and discharge container ships. As ships are becoming larger and larger, the latest container gantry cranes have much higher, longer jibs to match.

Block storage

Automated block storage is used at the HHLA Container Terminals Altenwerder and Burchardkai to stack containers in a compact and efficient manner. Containers are stacked in several storage blocks. Rail-mounted gantry cranes are used to transport and stow the boxes.