DGAP-News: Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG / Key word(s): Quarterly / Interim Statement 
Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG: HHLA reports strong start into 2021 
2021-05-12 / 07:30 
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. 
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Hamburg, 12 May 2021 
[Publication of interim statement January to March 2021] 
HHLA reports strong start into 2021 
  . Group revenue at EUR 348.7 million (+3.9 percent); operating result (EBIT) at EUR 46.3 million (+26.4 percent) 
  . Significant decrease of 6.6 percent in container throughput to 1,677 thousand TEU 
  . Strong increase in container transport to 418 thousand TEU (+10.7 percent) 
  . Chairwoman of the Executive Board, Angela Titzrath: "Strong start into the year makes us optimistic about our 
    targets for the 2021 financial year" 
Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) started the 2021 financial year off strongly. Despite the continued influence of 
the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting global imbalances in transport flows, HHLA achieved a year-on-year increase 
of 26.4 percent in its Group operating result (EBIT) to EUR 46.3 million in the first quarter of 2021. The positive 
business development was attributable to high storage fees as a result of continued shipping delays at the Port of 
Hamburg as well as a strong increase in container transport volumes. Whereas container transport rose by 10.7 percent 
in the first quarter, container throughput fell significantly by 6.6 percent in the first three months of the year 
compared with the prior-year period. The decrease is due to the loss of a Far East service at Container Terminal 
Burchardkai in May 2020. Conversely, the Real Estate subgroup posted significant decreases in both revenue and 
earnings. In total, Group revenue increased by 3.9 percent to EUR 348.7 million. 
Angela Titzrath, Chairwoman of HHLA's Executive Board: "HHLA remains commercially successful even in the face of the 
ongoing challenges associated with the coronavirus pandemic. Based on the course of business in the first three months 
of the year, we are optimistic that we will achieve our targets for the 2021 financial year. We continue to implement 
our strategy of strengthening the competitiveness and future viability of HHLA with determination and consistency. We 
are focusing on measures to carry out the restructuring programme in the Container segment. Our customers can count on 
us to ensure the safe and reliable flow of goods despite various influences on the supply chains. Our rail subsidiary 
Metrans once again made an outstanding contribution to the positive course of business in the first quarter. 30 years 
after its foundation, Metrans has every reason to be proud of what it has achieved." 
Port Logistics subgroup: performance January to March 2021 
The listed Port Logistics subgroup recorded a 4.4 percent rise in revenue to EUR 342.0 million in the first three months 
of 2021. The operating result (EBIT) increased significantly by 33.4 percent to EUR 43.3 million. The EBIT margin 
improved by 2.8 percentage points to 12.7 percent. 
In the Container segment, the throughput volume decreased by 6.6 percent in the first quarter of 2021 to 1,677 thousand 
standard containers (TEU). This was mainly due to the loss of a Far East service in mid-May 2020. Cargo volumes for Far 
East services subsequently decreased slightly, while volumes for Middle East services fell strongly. There were also 
significant decreases in the United Kingdom shipping region and in feeder traffic in the Baltic region. While 
throughput volume at the three Hamburg container terminals was down 7.2 percent on the same period last year, the 
international container terminals in Odessa and Tallinn only recorded a slight decline of 0.3 percent to 143.8 thousand 
TEU. The multi-function terminal in Trieste went into operation in the first quarter, handling its first RoRo vessels. 
Revenue in the segment increased year-on-year by 1.3 percent to EUR 198.1 million in the first quarter of 2021. Volume 
shortfalls were more than offset by an increase in revenue quality. This was due to an advantageous modal split with a 
high proportion of hinterland volumes and a temporary increase in storage fees resulting from longer dwell times caused 
by ongoing shipping delays. The operating result (EBIT) rose by 26.6 percent to EUR 32.7 million. The EBIT margin 
improved by 3.3 percentage points to 16.5 percent. 
In the first three months of 2021, HHLA's transport companies recorded a significant increase in volumes in the 
Intermodal segment. Container transport increased by 10.7 percent to 418 thousand standard containers (TEU). Rail 
continued to benefit more than road from the recovery in freight volumes that had already begun in the second half of 
2020. Compared with the previous year, rail transport increased by 12.1 percent to 336 thousand TEU (previous year: 300 
thousand TEU). There was a significant increase in traffic from both the North German and Adriatic seaports. However, 
the strong year-on-year growth was mainly attributable to the rise in continental traffic. The upward trend of the 
previous quarters continued for road transport. In a persistently challenging market environment, transport volumes 
increased year-on-year by 5.4 percent to 82 thousand TEU (previous year: 78 thousand TEU). 
At EUR 124.7 million, revenue in the segment was up significantly by 6.8 percent on the previous year. However, this 
increase failed to match the strong rise in transport volumes. This was due to the fact that, despite a slight increase 
in the rail share of HHLA's total intermodal transportation, average revenue per TEU decreased as a result of changes 
to the structure of freight flows. As a result of the positive trends in volume and revenue, the operating result 
(EBIT) increased by 25.4 percent to EUR 21.6 million. The EBIT margin improved by 2.6 percentage points to 17.3 percent. 
Real Estate subgroup: performance January to March 2021 
HHLA's properties in the Speicherstadt historical warehouse district and the fish market area were again largely 
unaffected by local market fluctuations in the first quarter of 2021 and were almost fully occupied at the end of March 
2021. 
At EUR 9.1 million, revenue in the segment was down by 10.2 percent on the previous year despite the high occupancy rate. 
In addition to the partial waiving of rent deferrals, the decrease was primarily due to uncollectible revenue-based 
rent as a result of public orders. 
While maintenance volumes remained constant, the segment's cumulative operating result (EBIT) fell short of the 
previous year's figure by 28.4 percent at EUR 2.9 million. 
Forecast for 2021 confirmed 
For the current 2021 financial year, HHLA still expects to see a moderate year-on-year increase for the Port Logistics 
subgroup, both in terms of container throughput and container transport. A moderate year-on-year increase is also 
expected in terms of revenue. After the operating result (EBIT) in the 2020 financial year was burdened by net 
provisions amounting to approximately EUR 43 million for an efficiency programme in the Container segment, EBIT for the 
Port Logistics subgroup in the range of EUR 140 to EUR 165 million is targeted for the current financial year. A slight 
year-on-year increase in revenue is still considered possible for the Real Estate subgroup, with an operating result 
(EBIT) on par with the previous year. 
At the Group level, a moderate increase in revenue and an operating result (EBIT) in the range of EUR 153 million and EUR 
178 million is anticipated. 
In order to further increase productivity in the Container and Intermodal segments, capital expenditure at Group level 
is expected to be in the range of EUR 250 million to EUR 280 million in 2021. Of this, EUR 220 million to EUR 250 million is 
likely to be allocated to the Port Logistics subgroup. The main focus of capital expenditure in the Container segment 
will be on the implementation of a restructuring and efficiency programme and in the Intermodal segment on the renewal 
and expansion of the Group's own transport and handling capacities. 
HHLA will maintain its results-orientated dividend distribution policy, which aims to pay out between 50 percent and 70 
percent of the annual net profit after minority interests, in the 2021 financial year. 
Key figures 
HHLA Group 
in EUR million                              1 - 3 | 2021   1 - 3 | 2020        Change 
Revenue                                          348.7          335.7         3.9 % 
EBITDA                                            88.4           77.5        14.1 % 
EBITDA margin in %                                25.3           23.1        2.2 pp 
EBIT                                              46.3           36.7        26.4 % 
EBIT margin in %                                  13.3           10.9        2.4 pp 
Profit after tax                                  28.2           17.9        57.6 % 
Profit after tax and minority interests           21.3           10.1       110.5 % 
ROCE in %                                          8.7            7.0        1.7 pp 
                          31.03.2021      31.12.2020      Change 
Equity ratio in %               22.2            21.9      0.3 pp 
Number of employees            6,404           6,312       1.5 % 
Port Logistics subgroup ^1,2 
in EUR million                              1 - 3 | 2021   1 - 3 | 2020       Change 
Revenue                                          342.0          327.4        4.4 % 
EBITDA                                            83.7           71.6       16.8 % 
EBITDA margin in %                                24.5           21.9       2.6 pp 
EBIT                                              43.3           32.5       33.4 % 
EBIT margin in %                                  12.7            9.9       2.8 pp 
Profit after tax and minority interests           19.6            7.7      155.5 %

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