Preliminary Results: Deutsche Post DHL Group Raises Guidance After Record Quarterly Earnings and Once Again Announces Corona Bonus for Employees
Deutsche Post DHL Group (Symbol: DPW), the world’s leading logistics company, has today released preliminary results for the second quarter of 2021. Simultaneously, the outlook for the current financial year and for 2023 has been raised. Furthermore, an one-time corona bonus1 for approximately 550,000 employees worldwide has been decided. Preliminary operating profit (EBIT) for the second quarter has improved to record level with around EUR 2,075 million (Q2 2020: EUR 912 million) and has more than doubled compared to previous year. Against the backdrop of the excellent business performance, the Group has raised its EBIT outlook for 2021 to more than EUR 7.0 billion (so far: more than EUR 6.7 billion). The mid-term EBIT outlook for 2023 is now expected to be more than EUR 7.4 billion (so far: more than EUR 7.0 billion).
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210707005615/en/
“The second quarter proved once again that global trade volume continues to recover and the e-commerce boom is sustainable – and we benefit strongly from both. All divisions continue to operate at full speed worldwide and achieve double-digit EBIT growth rates. We want to thank our employees who do fantastic work around the world and deserve another corona bonus“, said Frank Appel, CEO of Deutsche Post DHL Group.
Group grants once again one-time corona bonus of around EUR 200 million
As an appreciation for their tireless efforts during the pandemic the Group has decided to grant again a corona bonus of EUR 3002 to employees worldwide. This one-time payment is aimed at approximately 550,000 colleagues in all divisions and countries. Excluded are Executives. The corresponding expenses of around EUR 200 million will be booked in the third quarter 2021 and are already included in the updated earnings outlook for 2021.
All divisions achieved a significant jump in earnings
All divisions significantly exceeded the previous year's results. Network capacity utilization was constantly high in the second quarter 2021. B2C shipment volumes remained ahead of last year in all networks, while the recovery in the B2B businesses continued to gain momentum. At the same time the tight capacity situation both in Ocean and Air Freight markets remained unchanged.
Express: EBIT in the Express division reached around EUR 1,170 million in the second quarter 2021 compared to EUR 565 million in the previous year’s quarter.
Global Forwarding, Freight: EBIT in Global Forwarding, Freight stood at around EUR 315 million in the second quarter 2021, also clearly ahead of previous year’s result of EUR 190 million.
Supply Chain: EBIT at Supply Chain came in at around EUR 195 million in the second quarter 2021. It was at EUR 33 million in Q2 2020 in the initial stage of the pandemic.
eCommerce Solutions: eCommerce Solutions recorded EBIT of around EUR 115 million in the second quarter 2021, significantly above last year’s Q2 result which stood at EUR 1 million.
Post & Parcel Germany: EBIT in Post & Parcel Germany in the second quarter 2021 was around EUR 315 million (Q2 2020: EUR 264 million).
The positive business development is underpinned by a continued strong development of cash flow. Free cash flow in the second quarter 2021 amounted to more than EUR 800 million (Q2 2020: EUR 605 million). For the first half of 2021 free cash flow now stands at more than EUR 2.0 billion (H1 2020: EUR 196 million).
Earnings outlook raised in expectation of unchanged high shipment volumes and improved efficiency
In light of the ongoing earnings momentum the Group EBIT for 2021 is now expected to be more than EUR 7.0 billion (so far: more than EUR 6.7 billion). This includes additional expenses of around EUR 200 million for the one-time corona bonus. For the full year 2021, the Group now forecasts a free cash flow of more than EUR 3.2 billion (so far: more than EUR 3.0 billion). Gross capex in 2021 is expected to reach around EUR 3.9 billion (so far: around EUR 3.8 billion). The full year 2021 Group tax rate will now reach 28 percent, the upper end of the previously guided range of 26-28 percent.
Mid-term guidance for Group EBIT 2023 is now expected to be more than EUR 7.4 billion (previously: more than EUR 7.0 billion). The aggregated 2021-2023 guidance for free cash flow was left unchanged at around EUR 9.0 billion. The cumulative outlook for gross capex was also confirmed at around EUR 11.0 billion for the period 2021 to 2023.
The comprehensive disclosure for Q2/H1 2021 will be published as planned on August 5, 2021.
– End –
Deutsche Post DHL Group Deutsche Post DHL Group is the world’s leading logistics company. The Group connects people and markets and is an enabler of global trade. It aspires to be the first choice for customers, employees and investors worldwide. The Group contributes to the world through responsible business practice, corporate citizenship and environmental activities. By the year 2050, Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to achieve zero emissions logistics.
Deutsche Post DHL Group is home to two strong brands: Deutsche Post is Europe’s leading postal service. DHL offers a comprehensive range of international express, freight transport, and supply chain management services as well as e-commerce logistics solutions. Deutsche Post DHL Group employs approximately 570,000 people in over 220 countries and territories worldwide. The Group generated revenues of more than 66 billion Euros in 2020.
THE logistics company for the world.
1 EUR 300 per full-time employee
2 EUR 300 per full-time employee
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210707005615/en/
Contact information
Press contact
Deutsche Post DHL Group
Media Relations
Anita Gupta / Tobias Ender
Tel.: +49 228 182-9944
E-Mail: pressestelle@dpdhl.com
On the Internet: dpdhl.de/presse
Follow us: twitter.com/DeutschePostDHL
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Hanseo University Expands Aviation Training Program with New Frasca Flight Training Device10.12.2025 17:05:00 EET | Press release
Frasca International, Inc., a FlightSafety International company and leader in flight simulation, today announced that Hanseo University in South Korea is expanding its aviation program with a new Level 5 Cessna 172 Flight Training Device (FTD), the seventh Frasca device to join the university’s fleet. Hanseo University’s school of Aeronautical Science recognized by the Korean University Accreditation Institute as the nation’s first Specialized University for Training Professional Workforce Industries, continues to expand its state-of-the-art simulation capabilities with the acquisition of a Level 5 Cessna 172 FTD. The addition builds on a partnership with Frasca that has spanned more than two decades and further advances aviation education across Asia. “We were seeking simulators that provided both realism and reliability, and Frasca stood out immediately,” said Dr. HanSuk Jung, Vice President Aeronautics, Hanseo University. “Over the years, our partnership has become a deep and lasti
Bregal Milestone Announces Majority Growth Investment in Beyond Now10.12.2025 17:00:00 EET | Press release
Bregal Milestone, a leading European software growth private equity firm, today announced a majority growth investment in Beyond Now (the “Company”), a fast-growing, cloud-native supply chain software provider for AI-enabled digital commerce. Driven by strong customer demand, Beyond Now has generated profitable growth and >40% last twelve-month ARR growth. Beyond Now supports some of the world’s largest and most innovative Communication Service Providers (CSPs), including Verizon, AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, and NTT, in managing complex digital supply chains to create seamless end-to-end partner and customer operations. Founded in 2018, the Company serves telecommunication providers, technology companies, and private enterprises to efficiently scale and monetize digital services through its suite of modern, Ecosystem Orchestration and Digital Platforms - including an AI Digital Business Platform for orchestrating partner offerings, an AI Digital Marketplace solution for personalized custom
Andersen Global Enhances Legal Capabilities with Addition of Brazilian Member Firm10.12.2025 16:30:00 EET | Press release
Andersen Global reinforces its legal platform in Brazil as Lotti e Araújo becomes a member firm, strengthening the organization’s capabilities in Latin America. Founded over 20 years ago, Lotti e Araújo provides comprehensive legal advisory services to Brazilian and multinational clients across numerous industries. Its multidisciplinary practice includes corporate law, tax, labor, litigation, collection, and credit recovery—along with specialized work identifying hidden assets and recovering appeal and judicial deposits in older cases. The firm also handles arbitration, administrative law, foreign investment, real estate, intellectual property, data protection, and corporate restructuring, and offers paralegal support for company formation and representation before regulatory agencies. The team advises clients on preventive legal strategies and complex disputes before administrative bodies and courts in Brazil. “At Lotti e Araújo, we have built our practice on ethics, precision, and a
NetJets to Bring Starlink High-Speed Connectivity to Fleet10.12.2025 16:05:00 EET | Press release
NetJets, the global leader in private aviation, and Starlink have entered into an agreement to bring high-speed in-flight connectivity to 600 aircraft across NetJets’ global fleet by the end of 2026, unlocking a new level of productivity and exceptional travel experiences in the air. “This agreement with Starlink positions NetJets to continue delivering exceptional travel experiences for our Owners and their guests,” said Patrick Gallagher, President, NetJets Aviation. “With Starlink, travel is elevated with reliable connectivity whether our Owners are flying for business or leisure—as seamless connectivity is critical to the experience our Owners need and deserve.” This multi-year, service level agreement paves the way for NetJets to quickly and seamlessly outfit its aircraft across the U.S. and Europe, with installation beginning as early as this month. Starlink is the world's most advanced satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet capable of suppo
Mercator Ocean International Makes AI Ocean Forecasting Operational with GLONET Validated by OceanBench at NeurIPS 202510.12.2025 16:00:00 EET | Press release
At NeurIPS 2025, one of the world’s leading AI conferences, Mercator Ocean unveiled OceanBench, the first open benchmark designed to assess AI Ocean forecasting models. This milestone follows the publication of Mercator Ocean’s AI model GLONET in September. Together, OceanBench and GLONET represent a decisive step toward integrating artificial intelligence into operational ocean forecasting, strengthening Europe’s leadership in trustworthy, AI-driven predictions at global scale. Presented by Anass El Aouni, Oceanographer and machine learning (ML) researcher, and Quentin Gaudel, ML Systems Architect, OceanBench establishes a unified standard to evaluate AI models against fundamental ocean dynamics. GLONET is the first forecasting system to be validated through OceanBench for operational use. Anass El Aouni : “OceanBench provides a transparent standard to evaluate AI-driven ocean forecasts. By comparing artificial intelligence with physics-based models, we can highlight strengths, identi
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom
