DGAP-News: Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG: HHLA WITH SUCCESSFUL FINANCIAL YEAR 2008

Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG / Preliminary Results

04.02.2009 

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Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), with momentum on volumes clearly
slackening, has nevertheless achieved best-ever figures for revenue and
result in the financial year 2008.

HHLA Group revenue in the financial year 2008 reached 1.32 billion euros
(previous year: 1.18 billion euros), with earnings before interest and
taxes (EBIT) at around 345 million euros (previous year: 288 million euros)
as preliminary, not yet verified, figures indicate. HHLA succeeded in
reaching its revenue and result targets, thus meeting its forecast for 2008
to the full. This was achieved owing to a boost in depth of services
supplied and thanks to improved productivity, despite slackening momentum
on volumes. Vested in the subgroup Port Logistics, HHLA’s stock
exchange-listed core business achieved revenue of 1.29 billion euros
(previous year: 1.15 billion euros) and EBIT of around 334 million euros
(previous year: 277 million euros). HHLA will be announcing its final
figures on 31 March 2009.

Throughput in the Container segment rose by 1.2 percent to 7.3 million
standard containers (TEU) over 2008 as a whole, with volumes decreasing
towards the end of the year. By contrast, further improvements were
achieved in efficiency and handling quality. In the European performance
rankings of major shipping companies, for example, HHLA Container Terminals
once again filled top places.

The Intermodal segment’s transport volume developed much more dynamically,
with an increase of 11.6 percent to over 1.8 million standard containers
reported for 2008. Along with strongly growing rail services to Eastern
Europe, renewed gains in market share for rail in comparison to trucking
are responsible for this. Towards the end of the year, however, there was
also a sharp fall in growth rates on volumes transported.

'With its excellent results for the year 2008, HHLA is well equipped for
the challenges of the current, deep-seated economic crisis, the extent and
duration of which cannot at present be predicted,' said Klaus-Dieter
Peters, Chairman of the HHLA Executive Board. 'We are currently directing
all our efforts towards being able to react appropriately to an undoubtedly
difficult year in 2009 with the utmost degree of flexibility.'

ABOUT HHLA
Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG is one of the leading port logistics
companies in the North Range of ports in Europe. With its Container,
Intermodal and Logistics segments, HHLA is positioned vertically along the
transport chain. Efficient container terminals, high-performance transport
systems and a full range of logistics services form a complete network
between the overseas port and the hinterland in Europe.



Contact:
Matthias Funk
Investor Relations 

HAMBURGER HAFEN UND LOGISTIK AG
Bei St. Annen 1, D-20457 Hamburg, www.hhla.de

Tel: +49-40-3088-3397
Fax: +49-40-3088-3339
E-mail: investor-relations@hhla.de


DGAP 04.02.2009 
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Language:     English
Issuer:       Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG
              Bei St. Annen 1 
              20457 Hamburg
              Deutschland
Phone:        +49 (0)40-3088-1
Fax:          +49 (0)40-3088-3355
E-mail:       info@hhla.de
Internet:     www.hhla.de
ISIN:         DE000A0S8488
WKN:          A0S848
Indices:      MDAX
Listed:       Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt, Hamburg; Freiverkehr in
              Berlin, Hannover, Stuttgart, München, Düsseldorf
End of News                                     DGAP News-Service
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