Freight routes remain resilient during pandemic
DFDS’ operating result benefits from a very resilient freight ferry business.
All passenger transport has suffered under the Covid-19 travel restrictions decided in most countries, and DFDS’ Q3 report shows a decline in passenger numbers on DFDS’ ferries of 84% compared to the third quarter of 2019.
“Nevertheless, the travel restrictions mostly do not apply to lorry drivers, and most of our freight routes transport unaccompanied trailers as their main business. Therefore, the freight business has shown considerable resilience during the pandemic, and freight volumes on our ferries were even above the volumes in October 2019,” says Peder Gellert, EVP, and Head of DFDS’ Ferry Division
“There are several reasons for this. Our ferry routes serve the European industries, and when their businesses are growing, we are able to provide the necessary capacity to support the growing trade. It is also due to the fact, that we have a very flexible fleet and can move the ships between routes at very short notice. Our large newbuilds from China can meet the increasing demand for freight capacity on North Sea routes where demand is growing because of stock building in the UK to prepare for the end of the Brexit transition period,” says Peder Gellert.
Read more in the Q3 2020 Report.