EBIT
The following presentation describes the changes in the key items on the statement of income, adjusted for special items.
Exchange rate effects in the first half of 2021 had a negligible impact on income and expenses overall. Effects resulting from changes in the scope of consolidation were not significant as well. The effects are presented in the above table and are not discussed any further below.
The economic development of DB Group in the first half of 2021 was marked by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on passenger transport and the strong development of transport and logistics activities. Operating profit figures improved again. Growth on the income side had a positive effect in this case:
- The revenue development war vor allem getragen durch die Entwicklung von DB Schenker deutlich positiv. Auch im Systemverbund Bahn war insgesamt wieder ein Umsatzzuwachs zu verzeichnen.
- Furthermore, other operating income increased significantly. This was mainly due to higher utilization of provisions for impending losses at DB Regional, performance-related higher train-path price subsidies, subsidization of single wagon transport at DB Cargo for the first time and higher insurance income for damages from previous years at DB Long-Distance.
As a result of business development, expenses increased significantly, especially at DB Schenker and DB Cargo, but in relation to income, the increase was lower overall:
- Cost of materials increased noticeably, primarily due to an increase in purchased transport services and higher freight rates at DB Schenker. In the Integrated Rail System, higher expenses for train-path and station use at DB Regional, mostly due to price and performance, higher purchased transport services at DB Cargo due to performance, additional burdens from a harsher winter and higher energy costs had a boosting effect. At DB Arriva, in particular, the cessation of the ARN franchise reduced expenses.
- Personnel expenses also increased. In addition to wage effects, the higher number of employees also impacted the Integrated Rail System. Additional burdens resulted from the positive development of business operations at DB Schenker. The cessation of the ARN franchise at DB Arriva in particular has had a mitigating effect.
- In contrast, other operating expenses fell noticeably, mainly due to lower additions to provisions for impending losses at DB Regional. In addition, effects from the cessation of the ARN franchise had an expense-reducing effect at DB Arriva. In contrast, expenses for related services rose at DB Schenker as a result of the positive business development.
- Depreciation also fell, although only slightly. In the Integrated Rail System, higher depreciation due to capital expenditures were more than offset, among other things, by the positive effects of vehicles reaching the end of their useful life. At DB Arriva, the cessation of the ARN franchise had a significant expense-reducing effect.
Operating profit after interest also improved, supported additionally by the development of interest rates.
The net investment income remained at a very low level, and the change was mainly driven by lower losses at GHT Mobility GmbH and Barraqueiro SGPS SA, Lisbon/Portugal.
The increase in the other financial result was mainly due to a net gain from the compounding or discounting of provisions.
Extraordinary charges fell significantly, mainly as a result of the omission of impairments at DB Arriva in the first half of 2020:
Extraordinary result | H 1 | ||||
2021 | thereof affecting | 2020 | thereof | ||
DB Long-Distance | – | – | 1 | 1 | |
DB Regional | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
DB Cargo | –19 | –19 | –13 | –13 | |
DB Netze Track | –1 | –1 | –2 | –2 | |
DB Netze Stations | – | – | 3 | 3 | |
DB Netze Energy | –25 | –25 | – | – | |
Other/consolidation Integrated Rail System | –38 | –38 | –70 | –70 | |
Integrated Rail System | –83 | –83 | –81 | –81 | |
DB Arriva | 0 | 0 | –1,396 | –1,396 | |
DB Schenker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Consolidation other | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
DB Group | –82 | –82 | –1,477 | –1,477 | |
Operating profit development of the business units
| EBIT adjusted by business units (€ million) | H1 | Change | H1 2019 | |||
2021 | 2020 | absolute | % | |||
DB Long-Distance | –1,144 | –720 | –424 | +58.9 | 224 | |
DB Regional | –359 | –597 | +238 | –39.9 | 186 | |
DB Cargo | –211 | –352 | +141 | –40.1 | –132 | |
DB Netze Track | 302 | 170 | +132 | +77.6 | 379 | |
DB Netze Stations | –7 | 53 | –60 | – | 123 | |
DB Netze Energy | 40 | 16 | +24 | +150 | 23 | |
| Other/consolidation Integrated Rail System | –194 | –471 | +277 | –58.8 | –376 | |
Integrated Rail System | –1,573 | –1,901 | +328 | –17.3 | 427 | |
DB Arriva | –31 | –153 | +122 | –79.7 | 101 | |
DB Schenker | 627 | 278 | +349 | +126 | 238 | |
| Consolidation other | 2 | –4 | +6 | – | –9 | |
DB Group | –975 | –1,780 | +805 | –45.2 | 757 | |
The development of the adjusted profit figures for the business units was varied:
- The business units in the Integrated Rail System developed inconsistently. DB Long-Distance recorded a further significant decline due to the continuing Covid-19 restrictions. DB Regional and DB Cargo were able to reduce their losses. Overall, there was a significant improvement in the infrastructure business units due to revenue growth. Only DB Netze Stations recorded negative development as a result of a decline in rental business due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
- DB Arriva performed significantly better again. However, the profit situation remained negative, primarily due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
- DB Schenker saw a positive development, driven mainly by the development in air and ocean freight.