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Archives for April 2025

Dachser grows through acquisitions

  • Group revenue increased by 13 percent in 2024. 
  • Record investments totaling around EUR 490 million. Almost EUR 400 million in additional investments planned for 2025.
  • Contract logistics grew by almost 720,000 additional pallet spaces.

Kempten/Munich, April 3, 2025 – Global logistics provider Dachser grew significantly in 2024, with sales growth of 13 percent lifting revenue above the 8 billion mark to EUR 8.027 billion. The family-owned company also recorded significant year-over-year      increases in other key figures such as headcount (+3,300), locations (+56), and pallet spaces in its warehouses (+720,000).

This growth is largely due to the acquisitions of DACHSER & FERCAM Italia, Frigoscandia, and Brummer, which will appear on the balance sheet for the first time in 2024. In purely organic terms, i.e., excluding acquisitions, Dachser grew by 4.7 percent compared to the previous year. This was driven by resilience in its European groupage network and rate increases in air and sea freight. Transported volumes rose by 7.6 percent to approximately 83.2 million shipments, while tonnage increased by 10.2 percent to some 44.1 million.

Business development would have been more dynamic, but there was a lack of growth impetus from Germany and Europe: “High costs, weak industrial production, and a decline in personal consumption have also had an impact on our business. Moreover, the many crises we face around the world today have been a constant stress test for our customers, and hence also for us,” says Burkhard Eling, Dachser CEO.

Investing during the crisis strengthens competitiveness

Dachser used its financial stability and strength to make significant investments. In 2024, the logistics provider doubled its year-over-year expenditure on company acquisitions, network locations, its workforce, digital innovation, and climate action, such as the expansion of e-mobility, to some EUR 490 million. Additional investments of almost EUR 400 million in Dachser’s network are planned for 2025. “Those who act during a downturn to invest wisely and consistently will enter the next upturn with the wind in their sails,” Eling says. “In the past, we’ve emerged stronger and more competitive from crises by following this countercyclical business policy. That will happen again this time around.

Dachser’s workforce grew in 2024 by more than 3,300 people to a total of approximately 37,300. The number of locations increased by 56 to 433 worldwide. This also reflects the previous year’s acquisitions in Italy, Northern Europe, Germany, and Austria. The joint venture in Japan, which was launched in 2024, has also been included for the first time.

Business development in detail

Dachser’s Road Logistics business field—which comprises the transport and warehousing of industrial and consumer goods (European Logistics) and food (Food Logistics)—increased its revenue by 10.9 percent to EUR 6.4 billion in 2024.

The European Logistics business line increased its revenue by 8.1 percent to around EUR 4.8 billion. The number of shipments handled rose by 6.5 percent and tonnage by 2.8 percent. Developments at Dachser’s European business units were driven by high cost pressure in key industries, growing price sensitivity among customers, and intensified competition due to weak demand for transport and warehousing. “The fact that we were able to grow not only through acquisitions, but also organically in a shrinkingstagnating market, illustrates the trust our customers place in the high reliability and quality of our network,” Eling says.

The Food Logistics business line has taken on a new European dimension thanks to the integration of Müller in 2023 and of Frigoscandia and Brummer in 2024. Revenue increased by exactly 20 percent to some EUR 1.7 billion, shipments grew by 14.3 percent to approximately 12.4 million, and tonnage rose by 31.5 percent to some 13.9 million metric tons. Eling says: “We’ve acquired companies that have successfully opened up business areas beyond fresh food logistics, that address additional customer segments and markets in Europe, and not least that have significant truck fleets of their own. All of this is part of our new strategic market positioning for Dachser Food Logistics.”

Revenue in the Air & Sea Logistics business field rose by exactly 22 percent to around EUR 1.6 billion in 2024. Here, Dachser benefited mainly from short-term special developments that caused freight rates in air and sea freight to rise. These include the crisis with capacity bottlenecks on the Red Sea and the e-commerce business between China and Europe.

Contract logistics, or the combination of transport, warehousing, and customer-specific value-added services, also played an important role in Dachser’s growth strategy in 2024. Expansion investments together with the capacity of the acquired companies increased the number of pallet spaces by around 720,000 to a total of 3.8 million. Dachser customers can now take advantage of warehouse services at 190 locations worldwide.

Eling expects 2025 to be another highly challenging year for logistics, with only limited growth stimulus from Europe. “We can see that economic performance in Europe is largely stagnating and is accompanied by capacity adjustments, some of them painful. This also means that we have to deal with transformation processes in key industries such as the automotive industry and energy-intensive sectors such as the chemical industry.” Moreover, there are increases in global uncertainties and the danger of economic slumps due to protectionism, the threat of tariffs and counter-tariffs, as well as geopolitical conflicts.

Against this backdrop, it’s important for Dachser to achieve growth outside Europe. “We will increasingly focus our attention on strengthening our presence in the Americas and Asia and connecting these markets with our unique competitive advantage: our European groupage network. Because the broader our global footprint, the greater our resilience,” Eling says.

Overview of revenue:

Net revenue in EUR million2024 (provisional)2023Change in 2024
vs. 2023
Road Logistics6,4405,806+10.9%
European Logistics4,7854,426+8.1%
Food Logistics1,6551,380+20.0%
Air & Sea Logistics1,5871,300+22.0%
Group8,0277,106+13.0%

Further press releases from Dachser can be found here: https://www.dachser.com/en/mediaroom/index

In the DACHSER magazine, you will regularly find up-to-date reports, articles, and interviews on topics that concern us today and tomorrow: magazine.dachser.com

Notice of the Establishment of a Holding Company of Consolidated Subsidiary of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE LOGISTICS, LTD.) and the Partial Transfer of the Company’s Shares to Kamigumi Co., Ltd. (3)

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Representative Executive Officer, President & CEO: Takenori Igarashi, hereinafter ““K” LINE”) and Kamigumi Co., Ltd. (Head office: Kobe City, Hyogo, President & CEO: Yoshihiro Fukai, hereinafter “Kamigumi”) concluded a share transfer agreement on September 27, 2024, under which “K” LINE would establish a holding company that would become the parent company of “K” LINE LOGISTICS, LTD. (hereinafter “K” LINE LOGISTICS) to which “K” LINE would transfer all of the shares of “K” LINE LOGISTICS held by “K” LINE, and “K” LINE would transfer 47% of the total shares of the holding company to Kamigumi.

“K” LINE today announces that it has transferred 47% of the total shares of the holding company, established on February 14, 2025, in accordance with the details of the agreement, to Kamigumi.

Outline of the Joint Holding Company

Company NameKLKG Logistics Holdings, Co., Ltd.
Description of BusinessHolding Company of “K” LINE LOGISTICS, LTD.
Location of Head Office1-1 Uchisaiwaicho 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Shareholder and Share Ownership RatioKawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. 53%,
Kamigumi Co., Ltd. 47%
RepresentativeRepresentative Director: Keiji Kubo

Reference

News Release on September 27, 2024:

Notice of the Establishment of a Holding Company of Consolidated Subsidiary of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE LOGISTICS, LTD.) and the Partial Transfer of the Company’s Shares to Kamigumi Co., Ltd.

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/logistics/logistics-20240927.html

News Release on February 14, 2025:

Notice of the Establishment of a Holding Company of Consolidated Subsidiary of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE LOGISTICS, LTD.) and the Partial Transfer of the Company’s Shares to Kamigumi Co., Ltd. (2)

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/logistics/logistics-20250214.html

“K” Line : Message from the Newly Appointed Representative Executive Officer, President & CEO

On April 1, Takenori Igarashi, Representative Executive Officer, President & CEO Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) made his inaugural speech at its head office.

The environment surrounding us is changing at an unprecedented speed. There is the spread of technologies to reduce our environmental impact and the construction of supply chains for the use of new energy as part of decarbonization; the rapid and widespread advance of digital transformation, which includes the use of generative AI; and efforts not only to address the shortage of human resources in various parts of the world, but also to secure diverse human resources and collaborate across industries.

Recently, in addition to the uncertain outlook for geopolitical risks in places such as the Middle East and Ukraine, since the inauguration of the new presidency in the United States this January, uncertainty over global energy and trade policies has also increased. There are moves to introduce policies that could have a major impact on the speed of the shift toward low-carbon and decarbonization, as well as on the supply chain and transportation demand itself, with the raising of customs tariffs on specific countries and products, and the introduction of port entry fees at US ports for ships operated by Chinese shipping companies and ships built in China. The uncertainty of the current business environment outlook is increasing.

Despite these conditions, the “K” LINE Group, under the leadership of former President Yukikazu Myochin, has been steadily advancing a five-year medium-term management plan announced in May 2022, and is bolstering the earnings base of its own businesses, centered on three businesses that will drive growth, by viewing changes such as decarbonization as business opportunities.

In the Coal & Iron Ore Carrier Business, we are working to further strengthen the relationships we have cultivated with customers in Japan, South Korea and China by leveraging customer-oriented and environmental sales. At the same time, we are also working to strengthen relationships with customers in the Indian and Middle Eastern markets, and with major resources companies.

In the Car Carrier Business, we are strengthening our earnings base in a way that meets the needs of our customers by reorganizing our route network, introducing environmentally friendly vessels that achieve low carbon emissions, and increasing the volume of High & Heavy cargo.

In the LNG Carrier Business, in addition to the existing markets of Japan, South Korea, China, and Europe, we are stepping up our efforts in new markets such as Southeast Asia and India, and are on track to expand from our current fleet size of 46 vessels to 65 vessels by fiscal 2026.

Our new business initiatives are also progressing smoothly. The Northern Lights Project in Norway for liquefied CO2 transportation will enter full-scale operation this year, with ship management due to begin for three vessels. In offshore wind power generation support, a Japanese geological survey ship was launched in September of last year, and business development has begun.

We are also working to further strengthen the three functions that form the basis of our strengths (Safety and Ship Quality Management, Advancement of Environmental Technologies, and Digital Transformation), and the human resources and organization that support them. In Safety and Ship Quality Management, we will continue to enhance our safe operation and management system, strengthen our ship management system, and secure and train excellent seafarers to further promote “K” LINE’s top priority of safety in navigation and cargo operations.

In Advancement of Environmental Technologies, we will further integrate our environmental response and technology evolution efforts into a unified strategy, and seek to expand growth opportunities for “K” LINE and society as a whole through low carbon and decarbonization.

In Digital Transformation (DX), we plan to expand and enhance our digital infrastructure by driving DX of data and DX of human resources as defined in our DX Strategy, and to create added value for customers by strengthening our own competitiveness through furthering the digitalization of our own operations and vessels.

I believe that further refining these strengths will support our business in this rapidly changing business environment.

As a logistics company rooted in the shipping industry, “K” LINE’s corporate philosophy is to help make the lives of people more affluent. Working under this philosophy, we operate as a partner that is trusted by all stakeholders, supporting the infrastructure of global society by providing safe, high-quality, optimal services that meet the needs of customers by making thoroughly considered proposals.

For our group to continue achieving sustainable growth in a business environment that is changing at such a dizzying pace, in addition to responding with agility to these changes, we must have the courage and passion to act without fear of change, together with the “animal spirit” needed to boldly take on challenges while calmly assessing risks and opportunities in our corporate activities. Personally, I hope to continue to maintain this attitude, and that everyone in the group will be able to work mindfully toward this. In addition, let’s work to improve the value we provide to all stakeholders and aim to become an even more attractive company.

Finally, I would like to end this message by wishing good health to all of you working within the “K” LINE Group, and to your families.

“K” Line : Publication of ESG DATA BOOK 2024

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) is pleased to announce a publication of ESG DATA BOOK 2024.

ESG DATA BOOK has been issued since FY2021 to summarize policies, systems, specific initiatives and relevant data related to “K” LINE Group’s environmental (E), social (S), and governance (G) aspects. It has been published as a tool for dispatch of information to, and for communication with, stakeholders who are interested in the Group’s ESG initiatives.

ESG DATA BOOK 2024 features new contents such as an “At a Glance” at the beginning, which summarizes the main quantitative information related to our sustainability and ESG. Also, we have expanded contents of disclosure in accordance with the frameworks of Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) as well as the list of key performance indicators (KPIs) for sustainability management. In addition, we newly include the index of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Standards in the back of the book, which is one of the main frameworks for ESG information disclosure.

ESG DATA BOOK 2024 can be found on our website.

HOME > Sustainability > ESG Data

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/sustainability/esg_data.html

Downloads:

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/sustainability/esg_data/main/0112/teaserItems2/0/linkList/00/link/ESGDATABOOK2024_EN.pdf

“K” Line : Daito Corporation Secures Japan’s First Green Loan Utilizing a Municipality-Developed Framework for Electric Tugboat

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) is pleased to announce that Daito Corporation (Daito), its consolidated subsidiary, has decided to procure funding through a green loan from Mizuho Bank, Ltd. This loan will finance the construction of an electric tugboat (EV tug),*1 which was decided on November 8, 2024. It is scheduled to be completed in May 2027. The loan utilizes the Port of Yokohama – CNP Sustainable Finance Framework (the Framework),*2 established by the City of Yokohama.

The Framework is a use-of-proceeds specific framework aimed at promoting the decarbonization of the port. A Second Party Opinion*3 on the Framework has been obtained from DNV Business Assurance Japan K.K. (DNV), a third-party verification body. The construction of the EV tug is classified as a green project under “Clean Transportation” within the Framework, and a letter of conformance*3 for a green loan*4 has been obtained from DNV. Daito is the first company to utilize this Framework for financing. Moreover, this is the first case in Japan of a private company utilizing a use-of-proceeds specific framework developed by a municipality.

This vessel was highly valued for the integration of hull improvements, electrification, and new maneuvering equipment to achieve a transition to non-fossil energy and improve operational efficiency. The adoption of lithium-ion batteries as a non-fossil energy source is expected to achieve a CO2 emission reduction of approximately 60%.

The “K” LINE Group, under its long-term environmental policy, “K” LINE Environmental Vision 2050 — Blue Seas for the Future —,*5 establishes and operates the DRIVE GREEN NETWORK framework to promote environmental management, reflecting its commitment to environmental conservation. It will continue to advance efforts to support low-carbon and carbon-free for “K” LINE group and society and contribute to enhancing people’s quality of life.

EV Tug Specifications

Dimensions: Length 33.4 m x breadth 9.6 m x draft 4.0 m

Applicable Regulations: JG (Japanese Government)

Gross Tonnage: 199 tons class

Maximum Speed: 14.0 knots

Maximum Bollard Pull: 48 tons (ahead)

Propulsion System: Electric Propulsion System

Battery Capacity: Approx. 3.2 MWh

EV Tug Overview

*1 November 8, 2024: Daito Corporation Has Decided to Build an Electric Tugboat

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/logistics/logistics-20241108.html

*2 It enables private companies and other entities to access sustainable finance without developing their own framework, provided their initiatives are designated as Port Decarbonization Promotion Projects within the Yokohama Port Harbor Decarbonization Promotion Plan announced today.

Please refer to the City of Yokohama website:

https://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/city-info/yokohamashi/yokohamako/kkihon/torikumi/cnp/ycnpfw.html

*3Please refer to the DNV website:

https://webmagazine.dnv.co.jp/sus_finance_list.html

*4Green loan: A loan for the execution of finance projects that contribute to solving or mitigating environmental issues, in accordance with the Green Loan Principles (see reference below).

Green Loan Principles: International guidelines for loans specifically designated for environmental purposes developed in March 2018 by the Loan Market Association and the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association. The Loan Syndications and Trading Association joined in December 2018.

*5“K” LINE Environmental Vision 2050: Blue Seas for the Future
As part of our action plan to reduce GHG emissions, “K” LINE is engaged in a number of initiatives, including the introduction of zero-emission fuels, such as ammonia and hydrogen fuels, and carbon-neutral fuels, such as bio-LNG and synthetic fuels. 
https://www.kline.co.jp/en/sustainability/environment/management.html

TT Club : Security of the supply chain more critical than ever

Fast-moving changes in supply chains across the world are more complex and unexpected than ever says international freight and cargo handling insurer, TT Club. Its’s recent Bulletin focusses on drug smuggling and cargo theft in the US, along with initiatives to combat the risks, including smart containers and online animated guides to spotting fraudulent instructions to operators.

London, 25 March 2025

A kilo of cocaine is worth between USD 1,500 and USD 2,200 in producing countries such as Colombia. By the time it reaches consumer markets in Europe and North America, it can be worth between USD 30,000 and USD 80,000.  Such is the profit incentive for drug traffickers.

Sea-going containers are an attractive mode of transport for these illicit cargoes. Inspections at ports and increased resources aimed at detection make up part of the armoury in fighting the burgeoning crime of drug smuggling but technology in the form accurate tracking of containers and their contents is becoming more sophisticated. 

“Our latest Supply Chain Security Bulletin* delves into the data relating to this crime and also the methods evolving in an attempt to minimise the consequences,” says TT’s Mikle Yarwood. “The graphic below gives some sense of both the level of increase in the problem and the successful seizures in recent years.”

Top 10 countries by number of cocaine seizures and quantity seized (in kilogrammes), 2022–2023
Credit : World Customs Organization – Enforcement and Compliance: Illicit Trade Report 2023

Focussing on the USA’s cargo crime profile TT’s claims analysis revealed in the Bulletin shows a significant increase in the total number of reported thefts of all types of cargo, up by over 60% in 2024 over two years prior.  Thefts of full loads from cargo handling facilities or depots made up nearly half of these last year as opposed to 29% in 2023. A change in regional trends across the States are also examined and illustrated in the graphic below.

Top 4 states claims 2022–2024

“At TT we will continue to interrogate our own, and other sources to better understand the risks across the global supply chain, not just crime,” explained Yarwood.  “We are also dedicated to advising and assisting those involved in the container trades to prevent, or reduce these risks.  In our current Bulletin for instance we have developed a series of loss prevention animations, available online  with the aspiration of raising awareness of how thieves commonly access cargo.”

Access to the latest Bulletin, and the series as a whole is provided  HERE

About TT Club

TT Club is the established market-leading independent provider of mutual insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry. The Club’s services include specialist underwriting, claims management and risk and loss management advice, supported by a global office network. TT Club’s mission is to make the industry safer, more secure and more sustainable. 

Established in 1968, TT Club currently services more than 1400 Members – container owners, operators, ports, terminals and logistics companies. Its membership covers the entire logistics journey, working across maritime, road, rail, and air ranging from some of the world’s largest logistics operators to smaller, bespoke companies managing similar risks. The Club is renowned for its high-quality service, in-depth industry knowledge and enduring Member loyalty. Its average annual customer retention rate is consistently over 95%, with some Members having chosen to insure with the Club for over 50 years. 

TT Club is managed by Thomas Miller – an independent and international provider of insurance, professional and investment services.

www.ttclub.com