Efficiency Improvements Defray NOL Financial Loss
Container shipping & logistics group Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) publishes it year 2012 financial report.
The Group posted a full year net loss of US$419 million, mainly due to a first quarter net loss (before non-recurring items) of US$255 million and one-time charges of US$108 million. Singapore-based NOL also said that its efficiency programme delivered US$504 million of cost savings, which is in line with its 2012 target. The savings were primarily achieved through reduced fuel consumption, network optimization and increased terminal productivity.
APL, NOL Group’s liner shipping business, improved its performance in 2012 by US$167 million to report a Core EBIT loss of US$279 million. APL shipped 3.02 million FEUs in 2012, a 1% growth in volume, achieved with a smaller and more efficient fleet. APL reduced its fleet capacity by 8% and total fuel consumed by 10% during the year.
Outlook
The global economy has shown some signs of improvement. However, the container shipping industry continues to face severe oversupply, causing considerable container freight rate uncertainty. Notwithstanding these challenges, the Group will start 2013 with a better cost base as a result of a modern fleet and more efficient processes. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Group expects a better performance than in 2012.
About NOL
Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) is a Singapore-based global container shipping and logistics company. Its container shipping arm, APL, provides world-class container shipping and terminal services, as well as intermodal operations.
