The international transport and logistics company Gebrüder Weiss closed the 2024 fiscal year with net revenues of 2.71 billion euros, representing a ten-percent gain over the previous year (2023: 2.46 billion euros). “We’re firmly on track: Despite geopolitical and economic tensions, we gained market share and grew, countering the overriding trend. By investing in our network, automation and digital innovation, we succeeded in expanding our range of services and developing the transport solutions our customers need – with the explicit aim of guaranteeing supply chain stability,” says Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss.

In the Air & Sea sector, the group reported the highest increase in revenue with 939 million euros, a gain of 21 percent (2023: 776 million euros). This growth was powered by various factors, including the expansion of the networks in the United States and Germany, alongside high transport volumes in transpacific trade. Rising sea freight rates for exports from China to Europe provided an additional boost. Attacks in the Red Sea forced container ships to take the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) instead of through the Suez Canal.

Revenues in the Land Transport and Logistics segment rose by five percent to 1.52 billion euros (2023: 1.45 billion euros). This figure includes sales generated by the Home Delivery service. Cargoes such as refrigerators and furniture are transported to end customers in Austria and several eastern European countries implementing a two-man handling service.
DPD Austria, which is partly owned by the Gebrüder Weiss parcel service, processed more than 62.3 million parcels last year. This translates into an increase of one million parcels compared to 2023. The main growth drivers were exports and private consumers.

The company's equity ratio remained steady at 60 percent, positioning Gebrüder Weiss as a crisis-resistant service provider and dependable employer. The workforce across the group’s 180 locations worldwide rose slightly to 8,700 (2023: 8,600).

Despite the economically challenging environment, the logistics provider adhered to its investment strategy. During the fiscal year ended, a total of 124 million euros were devoted to expansion and modernization measures, environmentally friendly power generation and e-mobility.

Investments in logistics locations, automation and digitalization

Gebrüder Weiss commenced construction of a modern logistics and IT center featuring a fully automated high-bay warehouse – in the immediate vicinity of its corporate headquarters and the Wolfurt freight terminal (Vorarlberg/Austria). A new logistics facility was opened in the southern German town of Straubing, providing Bavaria’s industrial and commercial players with efficient transport links to national and global markets. Gebrüder Weiss also expanded its locations in Maria Saal (Austria), Aldingen (Germany), Bratislava (Slovakia) and Tbilisi (Georgia). In Budapest (Hungary), an Autostore warehouse was built as part of the site expansion program; here inbound cargo handling, material flows and order picking are largely automated. The U.S. business is growing, with the logistics specialist acquiring the air-and-sea freight forwarder Cargo Link from Salt Lake City, Utah. Together with the recently opened branch in Phoenix, Arizona, the network in North America now encompasses 17 company-owned locations.

Gebrüder Weiss has also charted further progress with its digital service palette: the number of customer-based users registering for the myGW portal has risen to 25,000 since its launch in 2020. The platform provides real-time information on all goods flows and gives customers full transparency on the progress of their orders. In 2024, the application’s functions were progressively fine-tuned to better meet costumer’s needs.  

Expanding renewable energy and e-mobility

The company took important steps towards decarbonization and climate-friendly power generation. Additional photovoltaic (PV) systems were installed in Hungary and Slovakia. Gebrüder Weiss now operates 34 PV systems, which generated some 13,000 megawatt hours of electricity during the fiscal year ended. This equals roughly half of the power requirements of all Gebrüder Weiss locations worldwide. The increased use of solar energy has led to overall savings of 2,738 metric tons of CO₂.

To further reduce CO₂ emissions on a sustainable basis, Gebrüder Weiss is also reorganizing its own fleet and progressively deploying vehicles with electric drives. In Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Romania, the logistics company is already utilizing e-transporters to deliver goods ordered online to private households. In Germany, two electric trucks were introduced in 2024, and a further 13 will follow in Austria this year. As an initial step, the logistics provider has already converted a large part of its truck fleet in Austria to hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO), which can potentially reduce CO₂ emissions by some 90 percent (compared to diesel fuel).

Wolfram Senger-Weiss explains: “Along with the issues of sustainability, infrastructure and digitalization, the logistics industry faces numerous other hurdles this year. The persistently weak economy in Europe, new tariffs, and the crisis in the automotive industry are intensifying the competition for many companies. Gebrüder Weiss will continue to meet these challenges with a solution- and technology-oriented approach while aligning its general business strategy to the needs of its customers.”

Twenty years after entering the Serbian market, the international transport and logistics company Gebrüder Weiss take positive stock. “Serbia has undergone a remarkable economic development in recent years. Our decision to establish a central logistics hub for the Western Balkans here has proven to be the right one,” explained Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss, to media representatives in Belgrade on October 18.

Serbia has developed into an attractive procurement market for automotive parts, food, textiles, and furniture, with around 70 percent of exports going to the EU. In addition, the Balkan country is the main supplier of agricultural products to many of its neighboring countries, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia.

Today, Gebrüder Weiss offers its customers in Serbia land, air and sea freight transport, customs clearance and logistics solutions. Groupage freight shipments go to neighboring countries and the EU single market several times a week. The logistics provider has a total of 20,000 square meters of logistics space in the country. In 2023, the company generated net revenue of 53 million euros.

In addition to its headquarters in Dobanovci near Belgrade, Gebrüder Weiss has three other locations in Serbia: in Novi Sad in the north and in Niš and Strojkovce near Leskovac in the south. A new logistics warehouse in Dobanovci recently commenced operations. The company has already invested over 20 million euros in its logistics facilities. “By the end of the year, we will have invested an additional million euros in our home delivery services and additional warehouse space,” says Thomas Schauer, Regional Manager for Central and Southeastern Europe at Gebrüder Weiss.

Another area of focus is sustainability. For example, the Dobanovci location obtains all of its electricity from a solar power plant, reducing CO2 emissions by 90 tons per year. Eight natural gas trucks (CNG) operate on four routes for the consumer goods industry. In addition, detergents and cleaning agents are transported sustainably by rail to Germany. “Every year, 1,500 containers roll by rail from Budapest to the Ruhr area. This saves us more than a thousand tons of CO2 compared to conventional truck transport,” explains Roland Raith, Country Manager Serbia at Gebrüder Weiss. Next year, zero-emission e-transporters will also be used for deliveries to end customers in Serbia.

Starting with a small office in Belgrade in 2004, Gebrüder Weiss now employs 300 people in Serbia. Gebrüder Weiss was one of the first logistics companies to implement the principle of dual training for young professionals there. Since 2018, young professionals have been receiving both on-the-job and academic training in cooperation with the Transport and Technical School in Belgrade. “We offer young professionals long-term career prospects in a range of logistics occupations,” says Roland Raith.

Gebrüder Weiss Serbia at a glance:

• Founded: 2004
• 2023 annual revenue: 53 million euros
• Employees: 300
• Logistics area: 20,000 square meters
• Investment volume since market entry: over 20 million euros
• Latest expansion: 3,600 square meters of new warehouse space at the Dobanovci headquarters
• Overland shipments handled in 2023: 290,000
• Home deliveries in 2023: 62,000

"The expansion in Budapest offers room for further growth in the future. Increasing industrial production, especially in the automotive and electrical sectors, means that demand for transport and logistics services is expected to increase in the coming years, " explained Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss, at the opening on April 25, 2024. "We opened our first Central and Eastern Europe branch in Hungary in 1989. Since then, the country has become an important hub for transporting goods between our core markets in the Black Sea region, the Balkans, the Adriatic and Western Europe. Today, our countrywide organization in Hungary is a pioneer in automation and sustainable transport."

Smart technology for greater efficiency
The existing logistics facility was also modernized as part of this work, with inbound storage, material flow and picking now being largely automated using the new AutoStore system. The goods are stored in plastic containers stacked in a frame system. Robots transport the containers to work stations where the goods are picked for shipping.

"This saves time, space, and energy," says Thomas Schauer, Regional Manager Central and Southeastern Europe at Gebrüder Weiss. "We achieve an even higher level of efficiency in how trucks and containers are utilized. Cargometer cameras and 3D scanners measure the packaged items while they are still on the forklift truck. By ascertaining the size and weight of these items, we can make optimum use of the available space.”

Sustainable energy supply and zero-emission delivery
The majority of the energy required for buildings and e-vehicles is supplied by a photovoltaic system with an output of up to 354 kWp. "We use solar power to operate delivery vehicles in the home delivery sector, " explains Balint Varga, Managing Director Hungary at Gebrüder Weiss. "We use e-vans to deliver furniture, consumer electronics and household appliances ordered online to end customers in Budapest and other major cities. This enables us to cut CO2 emissions by around 12.5 tons per month."

Gebrüder Weiss has been present in Hungary since 1989 and today offers full-service logistics at six locations – in addition to Budapest, these are Győr, Zalaegerszeg, Pécs, Szeged and Polgár – with 450 employees – from land transport to air and sea freight to warehouse logistics. Further expansion is planned for 2026 in Győr, where a completely new logistics facility is to be built.

“Our vehicles are powered by a low-noise and eco-friendly electric motor, which makes them the perfect choice for urban traffic. Not only do they help improve air quality, but they also contribute to our organizational goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2030,” explains Bálint Varga, Country Manager Hungary at Gebrüder Weiss. “We want our transports to be as sustainable as possible, and these zero-emission deliveries are an important step in that direction.” During the first three months, the e-vans were in use seven days a week, covering a total of 72,000 kilometers. This corresponds to CO₂ savings of 15 tons against a comparable diesel-powered vehicle.

The close cooperation between Gebrüder Weiss and IKEA, two companies sharing a vision of sustainable transport, has contributed significantly to the success of this project. Bránko Aczkov, Service Operation Developer at IKEA in Hungary, emphasizes: “It is very important for IKEA that our goods, which are produced in an eco-friendly manner, are delivered to the customers using zero-emission means of transport. With Gebrüder Weiss, we have a partner at our side who thinks along the same lines and supports us on this path.” In Austria, Gebrüder Weiss has been using electric vehicles to deliver IKEA goods to private households since 2021.

After the successful pilot phase in Budapest, Gebrüder Weiss intends to continue expanding its climate-friendly Home Delivery services. Starting in 2024, ten more Ford E-Transit e-vans will provide delivery services to end customers in the Hungarian cities of Győr, Pécs, Zalaegerszeg and Szeged. The further development of alternative drive systems for transport vehicles is part of Gebrüder Weiss' long-term strategy. In addition to electric vans, the logistics provider also uses electric trucks in Austria and a hydrogen-powered truck in Switzerland.

Gebrüder Weiss has been operating in Hungary since 1990 and currently has eight locations in the country. The company is one of the country's market leaders in home delivery, i.e. the delivery of furniture, consumer electronics and household appliances.

“It is important to maintain the islands’ authenticity and uniqueness. By using our electric tricycles to provide delivery services we help the island oases retain their charming character. And our customers will receive the goods they ordered online in an eco-friendly manner,” says Barbara Bujačić, Country Manager Croatia at Gebrüder Weiss. The vehicle can transport consignments with a total weight of up to 500 kilograms and cover 50 kilometers per day on one battery charge.

Electric vans in urban areas
In addition to electric tricycles, Gebrüder Weiss Croatia has recently started to use electric vans for deliveries to final customers in Zagreb as well. Whether furniture, washing machines, fridges and freezers or sports equipment – Gebrüder Weiss delivers the products wherever the customers need them. An electric van is able to cover 170 kilometers on one battery charge, allowing up to 35 eco-friendly deliveries per day. These vehicles are perfectly suited for transport in urban areas, and even reduce the roar of traffic thanks to their low-noise electric motor. Their batteries are charged via the company’s own Photovoltaic system recently put into operation at the company’s main location near Zagreb. The solar panels installed on the roof of the logistics facility boast an annual total peak performance of 500 kilowatts and contribute to saving about 107 tons of CO₂ per year.

Gebrüder Weiss implemented these sustainable measures in Croatia to take another step towards achieving the climate neutrality targets by 2030. For several years, the company has invested in alternative drives for heavy load transport, developing ecologically compatible solutions for the last mile. Thus, for instance in the Greater Vienna metropolitan area, electric trucks are used for local transport and for deliveries to final customers in Austria and Hungary. Moreover, one of the first hydrogen trucks worldwide has been in use in Switzerland since 2021. The acquisition of additional hydrogen and electric trucks in Germany is scheduled for 2024.

The international transport and logistics company Gebrüder Weiss posted turnover of 3.01 billion euros for fiscal 2022. This translates into a year-on-year gain of 18 percent (2021: 2.54 billion euros), and builds on the positive trend of recent years. “We have succeeded in adhering to and advancing our strategic goals in a challenging environment. We have expanded our position in the core markets of Central and Eastern Europe, the United States and Asia, while moving forward with our focuses on digitalization and climate neutrality by 2030. The rewarding results across our divisions are proof positive that we are a solid organization that is fit for the future,” says Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO at Gebrüder Weiss. The equity ratio also rose and has been restored to its previous level of 60 percent (2021: 57 percent); this increase underlines the company’s resilience and demonstrates that Gebrüder Weiss offers its workforce secure jobs.

The Land Transport division posted 1,479 million euros in sales, a gain of 16 percent (2021: 1,277 million euros). The Home Delivery service performed at last year’s level, delivering some 1.53 million shipments to private households in Austria and Eastern Europe (2021: 1.58 million consignments). As a result, Gebrüder Weiss maintained its market leadership in this segment. Major progress was also reported by Air & Sea, which closed fiscal 2022 with sales at 1,272 million euros, a plus of 24 percent (2021: 1,024 million euros). This surge was driven mainly by the high freight charges of the shipping companies and airlines. DPD Austria, which is partly owned by the Gebrüder Weiss parcel service, was able to sustain its volumes: in 2022 it shipped 66 million parcels (2021: 66.5 million).

International network expanded
Despite economic challenges in 2022 deriving from the war in Ukraine, energy issues and rising inflation, Gebrüder Weiss adhered to its investment strategy. A total of 67 million euros were devoted to consolidating the company’s own network and augmenting its international locations and services. The main focuses were Germany, Hungary, Romania and the United States, along with Turkey and Georgia. The latter two countries are chief links on the Middle Corridor, along which the logistics specialist extended its services to Central Asia and China.

In the key German logistics market, Gebrüder Weiss was able to cement its position in both Air & Sea and Land Transport. In southern Germany, the renaming of the Bavarian freight forwarding company Lode as Gebrüder Weiss Waldkraiburg was concluded. The continued expansion of the land transport network is planned for the south of Germany, with the takeover of the Rentschler shipping company (Baden-Württemberg) in early 2023 marking a first step. Having an enlarged network naturally prompted growth in the workforce: employee numbers rose by six percent to some 8,400 (2021: 7,900)

Continued focus on digitalization and sustainability
The year 2022 also saw the company sustaining its digitalization strategy “Best of Both Worlds,” which Gebrüder Weiss views as a winning combination of operational and digital competence. This included the next stage in the rollout of the digital service portal myGW, which delivers real-time information as to the exact whereabouts of customers’ goods – thus ensuring optimum transparency along the entire supply chain. “Our goal is to give our customers the best solutions for their supply chains, while confining our environmental impact to a minimum. Toward that end, we are constantly investing in our logistics terminals and digital tools, while simultaneously training our staff and identifying environmentally friendly transport options,” Wolfram Senger-Weiss explains.

To underscore the company’s commitment to sustainable goals and its pledge to contribute to climate protection globally, Gebrüder Weiss published a Sustainability Report in 2022. In line with its targets, the logistics specialist intends to achieve carbon neutrality at all of its terminals by 2030. One key element in this transition is an increase in power from regenerative sources; last year Gebrüder Weiss installed four new photovoltaic systems at sites in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. All told, 22 such systems are now already in operation, reducing CO₂ emissions by 1,110 metric tons annually. In 2023, the rollout will continue in these countries and in Eastern Europe.

Nor has time stood still when it comes to alternative drive options. After successful long-distance trials with the company’s own hydrogen-powered trucks, Gebrüder Weiss is planning further investments in this technology. In 2023, five new H_2—powered trucks are due to hit the roads in Germany. Moving forward, the number of electrically powered vans used in urban goods deliveries is due to further increase in Austria and Eastern Europe.

For 2023, Gebrüder Weiss is anticipating a renormalization of the logistics industry. Shipment numbers are currently declining somewhat, and the cost of transport by air and sea has dropped to 2019 levels. As a result, lower sales are expected. Global geopolitical factors may bring additional challenges. Wolfram Senger-Weiss: “The pandemic has proven that the logistics industry can perform under pressure and react swiftly to changing conditions. In the past year, Gebrüder Weiss has been able to further solidify its financial base and drive innovations – while remaining close to our customers and answering their needs with relevant digital services. In light of the current economic forecast, the high inflation rate and the war in Ukraine, we are – needless to say – circumspect and concerned. However, ultimately we remain a strong organization and that gives us confidence.”

Products such as the Billy bookcase or the Hemnes bed from the Swedish furniture manufacturer IKEA have been reaching customers in the greater Vienna area in emission-free e-vehicles since October. For the Home Delivery division, Gebrüder Weiss uses 15 new all-electric delivery vehicles from the manufacturer Quantron. Switching to zero-emission vehicles reduces CO₂ emissions produced when delivering to end customers by around 150 tons per year.

In addition to carrying out deliveries with e-vans, Gebrüder Weiss also provides other services with its own staff directly in the IKEA warehouse. This includes, among others, the removal of goods, loading and scheduling of vehicles. Furniture and large appliances are delivered to the end customer by a two-man team, and unpacked and assembled on request. In the greater Vienna area, Gebrüder Weiss delivers around 60,000 consignments per year with the new e-vehicles. The vehicles are charged with green electricity while being loaded at the central warehouse, meaning that the vans are immediately ready for use without any time being lost.

Emission-free delivery
“The launch of our new electric fleet in Vienna means we are one step closer to our goal of becoming a global CO₂-neutral customer delivery by 2025,” says Claes Lindgren, Head of Customer Fulfillment IKEA Austria. Vienna is one of 30 major cities around the world where IKEA is switching to zero-emission vehicles for delivery. Claes Lindgren adds that, with Gebrüder Weiss, IKEA has a logistics provider at its side that has already been enjoying considerable success using various alternative forms of powering vehicles in everyday logistics operations.

“Due to the short driving distances in the Vienna area and the low transport weight, e-vehicles are ideally suited for our home delivery services. E-vans make an important contribution to emission-free deliveries particularly in metropolitan areas with their high settlement and traffic density,” says Jürgen Bauer, member of the Gebrüder Weiss Management Board. In the future, IKEA customers in other Austrian federal states will also receive deliveries by e-van.

IKEA partner in Austria and beyond
Gebrüder Weiss has been one of IKEA’s logistics partner since 2017. In addition to Austria, the logistics company serves IKEA’s home delivery customers in Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia. These countries are also set to switch to delivery by e-vans in the medium term. Gebrüder Weiss has been operating several IKEA pick-up stations in addition to its home delivery services for almost a year now in Austria. With 220,000 consignments every year, Gebrüder Weiss is the largest logistics partner of the Swedish furniture company in Austria.

The transport and logistics provider Gebrüder Weiss has finished incorporating the operations of Rhenus Bulgaria into its network. As a result, four new locations have been added to its national subsidiary in Bulgaria – in Burgas, Svilengrad, Varna and Plovdiv. The 80 former employees of Rhenus Bulgaria can now look forward to fresh career perspectives as members of the Gebrüder Weiss family. The staff members from its Sofia site are relocating to the Gebrüder Weiss national headquarters just outside the capital in Musachevo, which is being further expanded. This move marks Rhenus Bulgaria’s withdrawal from the domestic transport market and the transfer of these operations to Gebrüder Weiss.

"Our more finely meshed network and new personnel will help us meet our Bulgarian customers' logistics requirements even more effectively. At the same time, we are expanding our service portfolio in the area of end-consumer deliveries," says Marieta Grigorova, the country manager at Gebrüder Weiss Bulgaria. Following the integration of Rhenus, the group is now providing Home Delivery options in Bulgaria. This includes the transport of furniture, household appliances and home entertainment products purchased online – to and beyond the customers' front doors. The two-man teams will also assemble furniture and connect electronic equipment. In several central and southeastern European countries, Gebrüder Weiss ranks among the market leaders in home deliveries.

Gebrüder Weiss Bulgaria has been active in the country's land transport, air and sea freight and logistics segments since 1993. In the 1990s, following the fall of the Iron Curtain, the logistics company expanded its operations eastwards from central Europe. Today it can tap a tightly knit network of hubs across various southeastern European countries.