The Wallenius Wilhelmsen Group, which specialises in transport maritime and motor vehicle logistics, closed the first year-ago quarter with revenues of $1.25 billion, unchanged compared to the same period in 2023, which recorded a contribution of €927 million (-3.0%) from Shipping. EBITDA and operating profit are amounted to €438 million (+10.1%) and €273 million respectively (+9.2%), with contributions from shipping activities of 378 million (+10.9%) and 256 million (+11.8%). Net profit is $185 million (+6.9%), of which $215 million (+22.9%) generated by maritime transport activities that in the handled vehicle volumes of 14.1 million cubic metres (-6.9%).

The group's Chairman and CEO, Lasse Kristoffersen, said he was satisfied with the results of the first quarter of 2024, "in particular," he specified in light of the impact of multiple external events. The volumes of maritime transport and available capacity," he explained have been negatively impacted by the use of alternatives to that of Suez. In addition, the collapse of the bridge at Baltimore has had an impact on activities on the coast Eastern United States. Despite this, and thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our team, we have achieved another a remarkable quarter'.

Meanwhile, in recent days, Emanuele Grimaldi, administrator of delegate of the Italian shipping group Grimaldi which operates also in the maritime transport of cars and others rolling stock, acquired 5.12% of the capital of Norwegian Höegh Autoliners which has a fleet of 33 ro-ro vessels for the transport of auto, plant engineering and breakbulk of the overall capacity of 232 thousand cubic meters. In the first three months of 2024, Höegh's fleet Autoliners transported loads totalling 1.2 million cubic metres compared to 1.3 million in the corresponding period of 2019. last year.