Röhlig: 2011 generates best results in the company’s 160-year history

Bremen. Röhlig, the Bremen-based, owner-managed logistics company, has posted 2011 as being the most successful year in its history. During its 160th financial year, Röhlig increased its corporate business volume by 15.5 percent, generating a gross profit of Euro 96 million. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) were Euro 15.4 million, higher than in the previous record year of 2007.

“We managed to expand our business in all regions, though most of the growth was achieved by the national subsidiaries in America and the Asia-Pacific region,” explains Hans-Ludger Körner, Röhlig’s Chief Financial Officer. “In Europe, it was our French and British subsidiaries that pulled off a particular increase in gross profit and earnings.”

Acquisitions in North and South America
Intent on expanding its global network, 2011 saw Röhlig purchase a fifty percent interest in its South American partner Procargo. As a result, Röhlig has consolidated its presence in South America considerably and now - in addition to its Chilean subsidiary - fields its own offices in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. In the USA, Röhlig improved its market position still further with the takeover of logistics company Seajet and customs agent CSI.

New Supply Chain Management (SCM) business division
In keeping with its Strategy 2018, Röhlig is investing in the development of new products. “Customers around the globe are demanding ever more integrated supply chain solutions, which is why Röhlig is developing this area as a product line in its own right,” comments Röhlig’s Managing Partner Thomas W. Herwig. Röhlig has been offering its customers services from the new Supply Chain Management business division since autumn 2011. Dr. Céline Wong, Röhlig

Supply Chain & Solutions Manager adds, “Our aim is to cover the entire value chain. We take care of all services – from procurement logistics to the supply of consumers and further processing companies”. Dr. Céline Wong and her team are currently occupied with establishing the new division’s structural parameters. At the same time, they are also assisting the national subsidiaries in the fulfilment of orders. “Our new product has been warmly welcomed. Less than a year has passed since its launch, and already we have successfully completed several major customer projects,” continues Dr. Céline Wong.

Global Executive Board
With Röhlig’s activities spanning the globe, the company has adjusted its management structure accordingly. Since 1st June 2011, the business has been managed by the newly created “Röhlig Global Executive Board”, whose six members manage the company from Bremen, Hamburg, Miami and Hong Kong. Thanks to this executive presence, especially in the dynamic regions of Asia and America, Röhlig enjoys even more proximity to its customers and their business. At the same time, employees still have direct access to the board. “We believe that this new structure will offer us additional momentum for growth,” explains Thomas W. Herwig.

Outlook
As far as overall business development is concerned, Röhlig views 2012 with optimism. “The growth charted during the first quarter of 2012 gives us reason to believe that we will reach our growth targets for this year, too. Sea freight margins are nevertheless feeling the pressure, and air freight - especially in Asia - is not running particularly smoothly. The European economic trend also represents a risk. That’s why we’re unlikely to see an increase on last year’s record result in 2012,” adds Thomas W. Herwig.

Röhlig Logistics
Röhlig is an owner run forwarding company, that offers logistics solutions in the field of sea freight, air freight, supply chain management and project logistics. Founded in 1852 in Bremen, Germany, the family-owned company today employs more than 2,000 people at 140 trading locations in 31 countries, generating a gross profit of Euro 140 million (2011).

www.rohlig.com