Overcoming the crisis with a dual strategy

The BLG LOGISTICS GROUP was not able to continue the successful development of recent years in 2009. World trade had a decline which was double that of global production. Seaport-oriented logistics has been particularly affected by the crisis, meaning container turnover at the major terminals in Bremerhaven and Hamburg were 18 percent below the previous year’s level. The Bremerhaven car terminal was affected even more, with a turnover of some negative 40 percent. The decline was just as great for the conventional general cargo in Bremen.

The stable and sometimes even growing business divisions include trade logistics and automobile transportation. After the pre-tax earnings of 84 million Euros in the boom year of 2008, BLG’s EBT for 2009 lie at around 15 million. A sales turnover of some 800 million Euros was achieved (previous year: 963 million).

With a dual strategy composed of savings and market offensives, BLG this year wants to increase the company’s earnings to over 30 million Euros. The savings also include various personnel measures, which were arranged with the workers’ council and trade union ver.di outside the applicable collective agreements. In 2010, BLG is still determined to keep all core jobs, so as to remain well-prepared in terms of quantity and quality after the crisis. BLG is also sticking to its long-term growth strategy. The current focus is on investments in automobile transportation by road, rail and water, as well as on strengthening the presence in Eastern Europe.

(Source: Transport Weekly)