DFDS July volumes: freight closing in on last year, passengers up 9%

By | 2023 Newsletter week 33 | No Comments

Ferry – freight

  • Total volumes in July 2023 were 7.2% below 2022. Volumes were 4.9% below 2022 adjusted for Channel.
  • North Sea volumes were robust on most routes but a slowdown in Swedish imports and a dip in fresh produce volumes to the UK due to weather conditions reduced overall volumes compared to 2022.
  • Mediterranean’s volumes were below last year as growth is being reduced by measures to curb inflation in Türkiye and European demand is stagnating.
  • Channel volumes were below 2022 which reflects the redistribution of market shares that took place in July 2022 in the wake of a ferry competitor’s suspension of sailings in 2022.
  • Baltic Sea market conditions are starting to become more comparable to 2022 as the war’s impact on volumes did not fully materialise in 2022 until after the summer. July volumes were still below last year.
  • For the last twelve months 2023-22, the total transported freight lane metres decreased 11.0% to 38.8m from 43.6m in 2022-21. The decrease was 4.3% adjusted for Channel.

Ferry – passenger

  • The number of passengers increased 9.3% driven by more passengers on the Channel and Baltic routes. The number of cars were up 3.8% due to primarily more cars on the Channel.
  • For the last twelve months 2023-22, the total number of passengers was 4.4m compared to 2.5m in 2022-21.

DFDS June volumes: freight in line with expectations, passengers up 19%

By | 2023 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments

Ferry – freight

Total volumes in June 2023 were 7.5% below 2022.

Volumes were 3.0% below 2022 adjusted for Channel.

North Sea volumes were higher than last year as fresh produce volumes to the UK normalised and automotive volumes remained robust. Mediterranean’s volumes were below last year due to lower exports following an early slowdown in European demand ahead of the summer.

The decrease in Channel volumes was in June still partly caused by market changes in June 2022 following a P&O’s suspension of sailings in the previous months in 2022. Baltic Sea volumes remained below last year as trade sanctions did not fully impact volumes until late in the summer of 2022.

For the last twelve months 2023-22, the total transported freight lane metres decreased 10.9% to 39.0m from 43.8m in 2022-21. The decrease was 4.3% adjusted for Channel.

Ferry – passenger

The number of passengers increased 18.9% driven by continued recovery and more coach passengers on the Channel. The number of passengers equalled 88% of volumes in June 2019, the latest comparable month pre-Covid-19. The number of cars equalled 88% of volumes in 2019.

For the last twelve months 2023-22, the total number of passengers was 4.3m compared to 1.9m in 2022-21 and 5.1m in 2019.

DFDS expands transport network in the Netherlands

By | 2023 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments

DFDS has acquired 100% of the share capital of the Estron Group, a Dutch provider of road transport and warehousing based in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Estron Group transports dry goods in trailers by road and ferry between mainly the UK and Germany, Benelux, and Poland. Both full- and part-load transports are provided based on a leased fleet of 300 trailers. Haulage is subcontracted.

Warehousing, cross-docking, and logistics services are provided from a 58,000m2 leased warehouse located in the Port of Rotterdam.

The company has 130 employees and the annual revenue in 2022 was EUR 50m.

Estron Group expands DFDS’ transport network by adding road transport capacity to the existing full-load operation to and from the UK that combines road and ferry transport. In addition, Estron Group’s part-load and warehousing operations complements the existing similar operations based in Wijchen, Netherlands. The acquisition thus strengthens customer offerings and is expected to generate both commercial and operational synergies.

DFDS: Calais — Sheerness becomes Calais —Tilbury

By | 2023 Newsletter week 25 | No Comments

DFDS has announced that it will be launching a new unaccompanied freight service from Tilbury to Calais, replacing its existing Sheerness – Calais service.

The newly located service will start in late June 2023 and will offer one daily sailing in each direction six days a week.

Vessel: BOTNIA SEAWAYS (115 unaccompanied units).

The relocation comes as a result of feedback received from customers and demand for a more accessible route into the UK.

Competitors: P&O Ferries, CLdN, Transfennica…

DFDS May volumes: freight slowdown as expected, passengers up 31%

By | 2023 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

FRS announced that it has acquired the high-speed Incat catamaran HSC ARTEMIS to enhance its operations in the Strait of Gibraltar.  The fast ferry has been renamed PONIENTE JET and is undergoing a complete refurbishment.

It can accommodate 640 passengers, 180 vehicles, and up to 330 linear meters of cargo.

The PONIENTE JET will join the FRS fleet in July.

Previously the vessel was in service with Ponte Ferries, starting in November 2021, followed by a complete stop in September 2022.

DFDS launches new initiative to protect sperm whales in Southern Greece

By | 2023 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

Together with a coalition of NGOs, including IFAW, Ocean Care, Pelagos Cetacean Institute, and WWF Greece, DFDS has developed initiatives to reduce vessel-whale collisions in the Hellenic Trench in Southern Greece:

  • Route Adjustments: DFDS has redefined vessel routes to avoid high-risk areas known for frequent sperm whale sightings.
  • Slow Steaming: DFDS has limited vessel speeds in these high-risk zones to minimize the potential of collisions.
  • Spotting and Reporting: DFDS has initiated a policy encouraging all Masters to maintain vigilance, identify whales, and communicate sightings promptly to DFDS vessels and other ships in the vicinity.

 While the route adjustments and slow steaming have extended trip durations, the impact has been minimal: an increase of 15-30 min per leg.

The changes apply to vessels calling Pendik, Trieste, Sete and Yalova.

DFDS April volumes: passenger growth continues, slowdown in freight

By | 2023 Newsletter week 19 | No Comments

DFDS Q1 2023: ahead of expectations

  • Revenue up 9% to DKK 6.3bn driven by the continued recovery in passenger numbers and spending, price increases for freight services to cover rising energy and other costs, and a positive impact from acquisitions.
  • EBITDA up 23% to DKK 1.0bn.
  • EBITDA for the freight ferry activities increased 4% to DKK 717m.
  • EBITDA for the Logistics Division increased 38% to DKK 299m.
  • EBITDA for passenger activities across the route network increased DKK 100m to DKK 9m which was on level with Q1 2019, the latest pre-Covid-19 year.
  • Freight volumes between the UK and Continent/Scandinavia declined in Q1, especially on the English Channel, while domestic transport volumes, also in the UK, were more robust. The war in Ukraine lowered freight volumes in the Baltic region compared to 2022.
  • For the last twelve months (LTM) 2023-22, EBITDA increased 4% to DKK 5,160m.
  • The outlook for EBITDA of DKK 4.5-5.0bn is unchanged. Revenue is overall still expected to remain at the same level as 2022. The investment outlook of around DKK 1.6bn is also unchanged, excluding acquisitions.

Read the Q1 2023 interim report here

DFDS April volumes: passenger growth continues, slowdown in freight

By | 2023 Newsletter week 19 | No Comments

Ferry – freight:

  • Total volumes in April 2023 were 18.7% below 2022.
  • Volumes were 7.7% below 2022 adjusted for Channel that is impacted by a general market decrease and overcapacity.
  • North Sea volumes were below last year due to lower volumes between mainly the Netherlands and the UK following a continued drop in Continental vegetable and fruit export to the UK.
  • Mediterranean volumes were just below last year adjusted for route changes due to congestion in the port of Mersin following the earthquake in February 2023 and some slowdown in activity ahead of the upcoming election.
  • Channel volumes were significantly below last year due to a continued market decrease, suspension of sailings by P&O Ferries throughout April 2022, and a negative impact from the entry of a third ferry operator, Irish Ferries.
  • Baltic Sea volumes remained negatively impacted by the war in Ukraine.
  • For the last twelve months 2023-22, the total transported freight lane metres decreased 8.0% to 40.1m from 43.6m in 2022-21. The decrease was 3.5% adjusted for Channel.

Ferry – passenger:

  • The number of passengers continued to recover and increased 22.3% to 406k equal to 84% of volumes in April 2019, the latest comparable month pre-Covid-19.
  • The number of cars equalled 79% of volumes in 2019.
  • For the last twelve months 2023-22, the total number of passengers was 4.2m compared to 1.4m in 2022-21 and 5.1m in 2019.

DFDS March volumes: freight in line with expectations

By | 2023 Newsletter week 15 | No Comments

Ferry – freight

  • Total volumes in March 2023 were 12.0% below 2022.
  • Volumes were 6.1% below 2022 adjusted for closure of the Izmir-Tarragona route and Channel that is impacted by a market decrease and overcapacity.
  • North Sea volumes were below last year due to mainly fewer volumes between the Netherlands and the UK following an expectedly temporary drop in Continental vegetable and fruit volumes caused by high energy prices.
  • Mediterranean volumes were above last year adjusted for the closure of the Izmir-Tarragona route.
  • Channel volumes were below last year due to a continued market decrease, suspension of sailings by P&O Ferries in March 2022, and a negative impact from the entry of a third ferry operator, Irish Ferries.
  • Baltic Sea volumes remained negatively impacted by the war in Ukraine.
  • For the last twelve months 2023-22, the total transported freight lane metres decreased 6.0% to 40.8m from 43.4m in 2022-21. The decrease was 2.5% adjusted for the closed Izmir-Tarragona route and Channel.

Ferry – passenger

  • The number of passengers continued to recover and increased 76.2% to 235k equal to 85% of volumes in March 2019, the latest comparable month pre-Covid-19.
  • The number of cars equalled 76% of volumes in 2019.
  • For the last twelve months 2023-22, the total number of passengers was 4.1m compared to 1.1m in 2022-21 and 5.1m in 2019.