The shipping and logistics company DFDS’ turnover and profit grew by 18 per cent in 2011, with growth focused in the Channel, Baltic Sea, and on some major North Sea routes.

In spite of the generally difficult market conditions, the group’s turnover grew to a record £1.4 billion and operating result (EBITDA) grew to £174 million – a growth of 18 per cent for both. Pre-tax profit was £86 million.

UK ferry route success

In spite of very fierce competition in the English Channel, the three ships operated by the brand on the Dover-Dunkerque service had a strong growth in passenger numbers of 2.4 per cent.

Freight units mirrored this growth with a rise of 4.2 per cent, thus allowing DFDS to increase its market share.

Some of the growth can be attributed to the fact that the French ferry company SeaFrance ceased operations from November 2011.

“With the new Dover-Calais route added to our Channel services, we expect it to grow into a major business area for DFDS in the coming years, and to become the preferred crossing for customers in the UK as well as on the Continent,” said executive vice president Peder Gellert Pedersen, head of DFDS’ shipping division.

On DFDS’ cruise ferry route from Newcastle to Amsterdam, passenger numbers also grew by 1.4 per cent.

The freight ferry services from the terminal in Immingham to Rotterdam grew by 23 per cent due to a good market situation in the Humber area.

This allowed for extra sailings on the route.

Growth of 8.9 per cent on the route to Cuxhaven in Germany was due to a growing number of new cars imported from German car manufacturers, among other factors, and there was growth also of 0.8 per cent from Felixstowe to Rotterdam.

Freight services to Sweden, Belgium and Denmark showed a slight fall in volume.

DFDS is recognised as the World’s Leading Ferry Operator by the

World Travel Awards.