The company thus achieved the highest turnover in the Group's history. All five divisions contributed to the best business performance ever. The dynamic development led to a record result of EUR 8.0 billion (2020: EUR 4.8 billion) and an EBIT margin of 9.8% (2020: 7.3%).

"We have proven our full strength in challenging times and achieved a new record in revenue and earnings. Never before has Deutsche Post DHL Group transported so many freight items, express shipments and parcels worldwide. We are also making an important contribution to society with our vaccine logistics. We would like to thank our employees for their extraordinary commitment in a challenging year," said Frank Appel, CEO of Deutsche Post DHL Group.

Forecast for 2022: growth expected to continue

For the 2022 financial year, the Group expects EBIT of EUR 8.0 billion with a deviation of + / - 5%. The forecast is based on the assumption that online retail will maintain its strength and continue its structural growth after a normalization phase. Following the dynamic recovery in global trade over the course of 2021, growth in global logistics activities should continue at a slower pace. Intercontinental transport capacities are not expected to ease until the second half of 2022 at the earliest.

"Our forecast does not include the effects of the conflict in Eastern Europe on global economic growth and the global transport markets, which are currently difficult to predict. The first priority now is to help the people in the war zone, ensure the safety of all our employees and keep global supply chains running," says Frank Appel.

The Group presented its medium-term financial targets up to 2024 in its annual report. EBIT is expected to increase to around 8.5 billion euros in 2024. Excluding acquisitions, such as the planned takeover of Hillebrand, the Group expects cumulative free cash flow of around EUR 11 billion in the period from 2022 to 2024. Over the same period, the company is forecasting cumulative investments (capex) of around EUR 12 billion.

"I am delighted that we were able to close the third financial year in a row with a record result. We have fundamentally improved the Group's financial strength with a massive leap in growth in all financial dimensions. This strengthens our ability to pay dividends and creates scope for the use of the remaining free cash flow," said CFO Melanie Kreis.

The record result is also reflected in a higher net profit for the year. Consolidated profit after non-controlling interests increased to 5.1 billion euros (2020: 3.0 billion euros). Undiluted earnings per share thus amounted to 4.10 euros (2019: 2.41 euros).

All divisions record sales and earnings growth

Express: Revenue and earnings in the Express division developed positively in 2021. EBIT increased by 53.4% to 4.2 billion euros. At 24.2 billion euros (2020: 19.1 billion euros), revenue was up on the previous year. This was mainly due to the 10.3% growth in international time-definite express (TDI) shipments and an increase in the average weight per shipment. Express achieved a record EBIT margin of 17.4% (2020: 14.4%).

Global Forwarding, Freight (GFF): EBIT more than doubled to EUR 1.3 billion (2020: EUR 0.6 billion). Revenue increased to 22.8 billion euros (2020: 15.8 billion euros). The continued sharp reduction in transport capacities met with significantly higher demand in 2021 - driven by the recovery in global trade. Air and sea freight volumes increased by 25.7% and 8.7% respectively. Road freight shipment volumes also grew by 7.8%. The division's EBIT margin improved to 5.7% (2020: 3.7%).

Supply Chain: Reliable supply chains were in high demand in the past financial year. The division achieved a leap in earnings to 705 million euros (2020: 424 million euros). This was based on an increase in turnover to 13.9 billion euros (2020: 12.5 billion euros) and efficiency improvements. Targeted digitalization and automation projects as well as successful cost management increased the EBIT margin to 5.1% (2020: 3.4%).

eCommerce Solutions: The division more than doubled its earnings in the 2021 financial year. EBIT amounted to 417 million euros (2020: 158 million euros). The dynamic growth in shipment volumes in online retail contributed significantly to this. Almost all regions achieved double-digit growth rates. Business volumes developed particularly strongly in the Netherlands and India. Shipment volumes in cross-border transportation in Europe also increased by 21.6%. The unabated strong growth in the international parcel business enabled more efficient network capacity utilization. After the division achieved a positive EBIT margin for the first time in the previous year, it reached a remarkable 7.0% in 2021 (2020: 3.3%).

Post & Parcel Germany: The division increased earnings and revenue. EBIT increased to 1.75 billion euros (2020: 1.6 billion euros). The division transported a record volume of over 1.8 billion parcels in 2021 (2020: 1.6 billion parcels). Revenue developed accordingly to 17.4 billion euros (2020: 16.5 billion euros) with almost unchanged volumes in the Post Germany business unit with 14.2 billion letters. At 10.0 percent (2020: 9.7 percent), the EBIT margin remained at the previous year's level.