Income surge

Consolidated 2013 net profit of Deutsche Post DHL rose 28 percent to 2.1 billion euros ($2.9 billion), the German postal and logistics company said in its annual report released March 12.

The profit was reached in spite of slightly lower revenue which was down by 0.8 percent to 55.1 billion euros due to global currency fluctuations, the globally active firm said. Nevertheless, the company delivered more than a billion parcels for the first time in its history on the back of strongly rising sales in the online retail and mail order sector, it added.

"Deutsche Post DHL has further strengthened its already strong global market position in 2013," Chief Executive Frank Appel said in a statement.

Appel also announced that Deutsche Post DHL management was proposing a hike in dividend by 10 cents to 0.80 euros per share.

In his guidance for 2014, the CEO outlined a planned rise in operating profit from 2.8 billion euros in 2013 to between 2.9 billion and 3.1 billion euros this year. This effort will be supported by an increase in postage for letters which came into effect in January. In terms of investment, Deutsche Post DHL plans to spend a major sum on improving its delivery infrastructure to cope with a rising parcel business.

The German state remains a 21 percent stakeholder of Deutsche Post DHL.

uhe/mz (Reuters, dpa, AFP)