Kuehne+Nagel closed the 2022 financial year with an exceptionally strong result. Group net turnover increased by 20% to CHF 39.4 billion, EBIT by 28% to CHF 3.8 billion and net profit by 30% to CHF 2.8 billion. The conversion rate, which describes the ratio of EBIT to gross profit of the Group, was 33.9%. All business units contributed significantly to the company's success. Due to the overall economic slowdown, the result in the fourth quarter of 2022 was weaker compared to the rest of the year.
From today's perspective, the macroeconomic environment will remain challenging in 2023 due to geopolitical developments and inflation. However, we expect the positive growth and earnings trend that has continued for many years to continue this year, albeit excluding the exceptional business volumes and results in financial years 2021 and 2022, which were the result of a corona-related special economic situation.
Stefan Paul, CEO of Kuehne+Nagel International AG:
"The 2022 financial year was exceptional for Kuehne+Nagel in many respects – a year of great financial success, but also with challenges for us and our customers. Thanks to our dedicated employees, we were able to provide our customers around the world with high-quality logistics services. Now is the right time to launch our new strategic Roadmap 2026 and ensure Kuehne+Nagel's sustainable future success with a dedicated focus on quality, customer satisfaction and employee motivation."
Net turnover in the Air Logistics business unit was CHF 11.7 billion and EBIT CHF 1.4 billion in the 2022 financial year. The conversion rate reached 47.5%. Airfreight volume was 2.2 million tonnes at the end of December 2022. The margin per 100 kilograms was at a very high level for the full year 2022.
Demand for cargo capacity remained high on most trade routes. Following the turbulence in commercial aviation in the summer of 2022, supply of capacity remained volatile in the second half of the year.
In the 2022 financial year, net turnover in the Contract Logistics business unit amounted to CHF 4.9 billion and EBIT to CHF 187 million. As of December 31, 2022, the business unit managed a total of 10.3 million sqm of warehouse and logistics space.
The Contract Logistics premises were heavily utilised worldwide. In 2022 alone, the unit implemented more than 150 new logistics projects – often large-scale warehouses with state-of-the-art technology and robotics.
Dr. Joerg Wolle, Chairman of the Board of Kuehne+Nagel International AG:
"The Kuehne+Nagel Group performed extremely well in the 2022 financial year and took advantage of the opportunities that emerged from the challenging, extremely complex macroeconomic situation. The company achieved a new record in both net turnover and profit. With a dividend proposal of CHF 14.00 per share for the 2022 financial year, we want our shareholders to participate in the company's success."
