And the company revealed it had postponed
the delivery of its “last three already fully-financed newbuildings” at Hyundai Heavy from the
second half of 2013 to March and April 2014 as a result of the latest transport
volume forecasts, as it seeks to manage capacity.
Hapag told TradeWinds three 13,169-teu ships - numbers five to seven of an original 10 - are still
due from the Korean yard this month and in May and July this year.
The company also said: “If required,
Hapag-Lloyd can return chartered ships to the owners.”
The net loss was EUR 128m ($165.64m) last year, from EUR 28.8m in 2011.
Freight rates were up 3.2% to
$1,581, while box volumes rose 1.1% to 53m teu.
Revenue also increased, rising 12.1% to EUR
6.84bn.
But the company had to spend 9% more on bunkers
last year, with overall transport expenses in 2012 more than EUR 900m higher
over the previous year.
The marked downturn in the global economy
also resulted in unexpectedly low cargo volumes and an absence of the peak
season in the second half of the year, it said.
Rate increases of more than 12% successfully
implemented in the first half fell away in the second.
“Despite a difficult economic environment,
we were able to generate a positive operating result, as we did in 2011,” CEO
Michael Behrendt said.
“Although this meant that we performed well
compared to the rest of the industry, earnings fell short of our expectations
and are not satisfactory.”
It will focus on raising rates and cutting
costs in 2013, with talks ongoing about a tie-up with Hamburg Sud.
Looking ahead, Behrendt said: “Supply and
demand levels are starting to converge again. Given that 90% of all goods
traded around the world are transported by sea, container shipping continues to
be a definite growth industry.”
The owner has liquidity reserves of more
than EUR 630m, including unused credit lines.
