Hamburg-Sud, Germany's second largest ocean carrier and 13th in the world, returned to profit in 2010 from its first ever loss in 2009 as a resurgent world economy boosted cargo volume and bolstered freight rates.
The privately-held carrier didn't put a figure on a "pleasing result" in 2010 that was driven by a 23 percent surge in traffic to 2.9 million 20-foot equivalent units.
Hamburg-Sud, and its Brazilian sister carrier, Alianca, also benefited from a "moderate" recovery in freight rates, which boosted liner shipping revenue 45 percent to just under $5.65 billion.
Including breakbulk and tanker shipping, the group's revenue jumped 39 percent to $6.4 billion.
The company, a subsidiary of the food-to-insurance conglomerate Dr Oetkr, invested $622 million in 2010, financed from its own resources. In March the carrier placed a $712 million order with Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries for six 9,600-TEU ships with the first delivery scheduled in May 2013.
The privately-held carrier didn't put a figure on a "pleasing result" in 2010 that was driven by a 23 percent surge in traffic to 2.9 million 20-foot equivalent units.
Hamburg-Sud, and its Brazilian sister carrier, Alianca, also benefited from a "moderate" recovery in freight rates, which boosted liner shipping revenue 45 percent to just under $5.65 billion.
Including breakbulk and tanker shipping, the group's revenue jumped 39 percent to $6.4 billion.
The company, a subsidiary of the food-to-insurance conglomerate Dr Oetkr, invested $622 million in 2010, financed from its own resources. In March the carrier placed a $712 million order with Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries for six 9,600-TEU ships with the first delivery scheduled in May 2013.