According to the official company statement, the turnover of the freight forwarding and logistics company based in Kempten rose by 13 percent to €8.027 billion in 2024, mainly driven by the integration of the newly acquired companies Dachser & Fercam Italia, Frigoscandia, and Brummer. The company also achieved organic growth of 4.7 percent. The number of shipments transported increased by 7.6 percent to 83.2 million, while tonnage rose by 10.2 percent to 44.1 million tonnes.
Business development would have been more dynamic if not for the lack of growth momentum from Germany and Europe. High costs, weak industrial production, and a decline in personal consumption impacted Dachser’s operations. CEO Burkhard Eling also pointed to broader geopolitical uncertainties, describing them as a constant stress test for customers and the company alike.
Despite these economic challenges, Dachser was able to further consolidate its market position and continue expanding.
Investments ensure long-term growth
In the 2024 financial year, Dachser doubled its investments compared to the previous year, reaching a record level of approximately €490 million. These funds were used for acquisitions, the expansion of network locations, workforce development, digital innovation, and climate protection measures such as the development of e-mobility. The company plans investments of almost €400 million for 2025.
“Those who act during a downturn and invest wisely and consistently will enter the next upswing with tailwind,” explained Burkhard Eling, CEO of Dachser. “In the past, we’ve emerged stronger and more competitive from crises by following this countercyclical business policy. That will happen again this time around.”
Growth in the individual business areas in 2024
Road Logistics: In this business unit, Dachser combines the transport and storage of industrial and consumer goods (European Logistics) and food (Food Logistics). The division grew by 10.9 percent to €6.4 billion in revenue.
The European Logistics business line increased its revenue by 8.1 percent to around €4.8 billion. Shipment volume rose by 6.5 percent, and tonnage by 2.8 percent. Dachser attributed the performance in this segment to high cost pressure in key industries, growing price sensitivity, and increased competition due to weak demand. Nevertheless, organic growth in a stagnating market was possible thanks to the reliability and quality of the company’s network.
Food Logistics: With the acquisitions of Frigoscandia and Brummer in 2024, and Müller in 2023, this division reached a new scale. Revenue grew by 20 percent to €1.7 billion, shipments by 14.3 percent to approximately 12.4 million, and tonnage by 31.5 percent to around 13.9 million tonnes. According to Eling, these acquisitions opened up business areas beyond fresh food logistics, accessing new customer segments and European markets, and included companies with significant own truck fleets. This is part of a broader strategic repositioning for Dachser Food Logistics.
Air & Sea Logistics: Revenue increased by 22 percent to €1.6 billion. The main drivers were rising freight rates due to short-term capacity bottlenecks in the Red Sea and the booming e-commerce business between China and Europe. However, Dachser notes these were special developments rather than long-term trends. No figures for shipment volume and tonnage are provided.
Contract Logistics: A key area of growth was contract logistics, which combines transport, warehousing, and value-added services. Expansion investments and capacity from acquired companies increased the number of pallet spaces by around 720,000 to a total of 3.8 million. Dachser customers can now use warehouse services at 190 locations worldwide.
The global network grew by 56 branches to a total of 433. The number of employees at Dachser increased by 3,300 to around 37,300 in 2024. This growth also reflects the previous year’s acquisitions in Italy, Northern Europe, Germany, and Austria. In addition, a new joint venture in Japan, launched in 2024, was included in the company’s reporting for the first time.
Outlook for 2025
For 2025, Dachser expects a challenging market environment, with a stagnating economy in Europe and uncertainties due to geopolitical tensions, protectionism, and looming trade tariffs. Eling also highlighted structural changes affecting the logistics industry, particularly transformation processes in sectors such as automotive and energy-intensive industries like chemicals.
Nevertheless, the company remains optimistic and is committed to further growth through strategic investments and a strengthened international presence. The Americas and Asia regions will be further expanded and integrated into the European general cargo network.
“The broader our global footprint, the greater our resilience,” says Eling.
