Gebrüder Weiss reported sales of €2.47 billion for 2023 (2022: €3 billion). Geopolitical conflicts and the global economic slowdown had a negative impact. Nevertheless, €187 million was invested in expanding its facilities and services. Many projects were initially postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite the decline, the company remained above its growth trend from 2015 to 2020. The special effects of the pandemic in the two preceding years did not continue in 2023. Consequently, net revenue in the air and sea freight division returned to its previous level of €774 million. Due to high freight rates charged by shipping companies and airlines, Gebrüder Weiss generated €1.27 billion in this segment. Land transport and logistics remained stable at €1.45 billion (2022: €1.48 billion), despite declining energy and fuel prices.
P. Kloiber, W. Senger-Weiss, L. Thoma and J. Bauer (Photos: GW/Ohligschläger)
With its investments, Gebrüder Weiss primarily strengthened its network in the German and US markets, as well as in Southeast Europe, but also invested in customer projects and sustainable energy generation. In Bavaria, in particular, the logistics company consolidated its position through acquisitions and real estate purchases in Bayreuth, Konradsreuth, Nuremberg, and the construction of a new freight forwarding terminal in Straubing. The US network was expanded with new locations in Miami and Laredo, Texas. Further investment projects included a second location in Bucharest, the expansion of the logistics terminal in Hungary, and the construction of new logistics warehouses in Graz and Reutte, Tyrol. These acquisitions increased the number of employees at the company's 180 locations worldwide to 8,600 (2022: 8,400).
In parallel with the network expansion, Gebrüder Weiss invested in the digitalization of supply chain management. The web-based customer portal (myGW) was enhanced with warehouse analytics. It offers transparency along the entire supply chain and serves customers as a central information and communication platform for everything related to their worldwide shipments, such as real-time tracking and estimated time of arrival (ETA).
Photovoltaics in Belgrade
The company made progress in decarbonizing its own business activities. Already, three-quarters of its electricity needs in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) are met by self-generated solar power. In 2023, the logistics company commissioned nine additional photovoltaic (PV) systems in the DACH region and Eastern Europe. These 27 PV systems generated a total of 5,850 MWh of electricity, resulting in a doubling of CO2 emission savings to 2,750 tons. At the same time, Gebrüder Weiss has been contributing to an environmentally friendly energy mix with its wind farm in Northern Germany since 2011.
The logistics company is already using electric vans to deliver goods ordered online to end customers in Austria, Hungary, Croatia, and Romania. Two battery-electric trucks are slated to go into operation in Germany this year, and further electric trucks and delivery vehicles will be acquired in Austria. To facilitate the transition to electric mobility, the company is converting a large portion of its own truck fleet in Austria to hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO).
Following the decline in global trade and recessionary trends, Gebrüder Weiss, based in Lauterach, Vorarlberg, anticipates a slight economic recovery from the second half of 2024 onwards, leading to more positive sales growth – fueled by the individual successful national subsidiaries. CEO Wolfram Senger-Weiss: “Our global presence is now proving advantageous (…) and allows us to react quickly. (…) The last few years in particular have demonstrated the importance of investing in both the development of our operational network and our digital expertise.”
