JOC Staff | Jan 30, 2013 9:10AM EST
Norbert Dentressangle, the French transport and logistics group, posted revenues of 3.88 billion euros ($ 5.24 billion) in 2012, an 8.5 percent increase on the previous year that was driven by acquisitions and a surge in freight forwarding sales.
The company said it expects full-year operating profit, due to be published on Feb. 27, will exceed the 2011 result, “despite a worsening and more volatile economic environment.”
The transport division lagged the logistics and freight forwarding units, with 2012 revenue rising just 3.7 percent to $2.75 billion, while fourth-quarter sales dipped 0.5 percent to $666 million.
Logistics revenue jumped 12.2 percent to $2.4 billion on a strong performance in the United Kingdom, Italy and the Netherlands, but year-on-year growth slowed to 8.2 percent in the final three months.
The logistics business was strengthened by the acquisition of Antwerp-based Nova Natie and the creation of a joint venture in Brazil.
Freight forwarding sales soared 67.1 percent to $193 million from $116 million in 2011 as the company integrated acquisitions in India and Sri Lanka.
“The targeted acquisitions that we achieved this year have consolidated our international positions in terms of freight forwarding and logistics,” CEO Herve Montjotin said.
“The flexibility of our organization and our rigorous management enable us to look forward to further operating profit growth.”
Norbert Dentressangle said it now conducts 59 percent of its business outside France, compared to 55 percent in 2011. The UK is its second-largest market, accounting for almost 32 percent of total sales.
