Kuehne and Nagel airfreight

Transport and logistics specialist Kuehne and Nagel (K&N) has revealed that it carried the positive momentum from the opening quarter of the year into the the second quarter, adding up to a better first-half performance in turnover, operational result and net earnings.

During the first six months of 2013, turnover increased year-on-year by 3.3 per cent to CHF10.4bn, (€8.4bn) up from CHF10.1bn (€8.16bn), while gross profit stood at CHF3.1bn, 2.6 per cent higher than the CHF3.03bn recorded in 2012.

According to K&N, the group's operational result (EBITDA) improved to CHF466m from CHF389m, with net earnings up from CHF214m to CHF289m.

“In particular the results achieved in the second quarter 2013 underline the fact that the measurements introduced to improve efficiency on a group-wide level are effective,' said Karl Gernandt, chairman of the board of directors and acting CEO of Kuehne + Nagel International AG. 'Although we do not anticipate a significant stimulation of global trade in the second half of the year, we will continue to focus on profitable growth.”