The domestic market is a challenge for the Vorarlberg Logistics Company, much growth comes from abroad. The brothers Weiss are particularly well represented in Asia and the US.
The recession in the industry does not pass the world’s oldest logistics company Gebrüder Weiss, located in the Vorarlberg Lauterach. “But we could grow against the trend,” says Wolfram Senger -Weiss in the “Krone” interview.
Air and sea freight develops strongly
In 2024, sales increased by ten percent to 2.7 billion euros, the market share increased. But a considerable part comes from distant parts of the earth. The air and sea freight grew by 21 percent, four times as strong as the other business areas. At the record level of a total of three billion euros in turnover from 2022, you are no longer yet, but at that time the yield was also strongly powered by the extremely high container prices.
The company accelerates gas, especially in the United States and Asia. “Dynamics is better than in Central Europe,” said the company boss. There are already 14 locations in the United States, most recently one in Phoenix. In addition, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta are important hubs for air and sea freight, and the orange trucks roll from here too. Transport between the US and Mexico is currently increasing, from which the Weiss brothers also benefit in the south of the states.
Asia is also a focus
However, a third also comes from Asia of the narrow billion in the overseas activities. The Vorarlbergers are represented in China, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan and Hong Kong. In the future, further markets such as Thailand could follow. The market in Southeast Asia will probably develop strongly in the future, so there is a lot of potential here.
“Germany and Austria, on the other hand, are our most challenging markets,” says Senger-Weiss. The weak economy and high costs also made the revenues lower than in the previous year. If industrial companies lose orders, there is also less to be transported. The rail and street infrastructure is also expandable. Some projects are here in the pipeline, the implementation of which would quickly facilitate cross -border transport.
“Stay 100 percent of a family business”
Senger-Weiss is currently the only one of the entrepreneurial dynasty that works operatively in the company. A sale is no problem. “We remain 100 percent of a family business,” said the son of the late long-term leader Heidi Senger-Weiss.
And there can even be opportunities in the middle of turbulent times. The purchase of billion dollars from DB Schenker is currently shaking industry by the Danish DSV, a new market leader is being built. In the case of a reorganization, the brothers can also show themselves one of the top 15 logistics in Europe.
More digitization in deliveries
In the future, Senger-Weiss is planning to rely even more on digitization. As with a package that is ordered in an online store, large customers must be able to follow their shipments exactly and always stay in the current way where the package is currently. The use of artificial intelligence is also a problem. In addition, the company invests three -figure million amounts in photovoltaic and Co. There are currently more than 3000 people in Austria. This number could be kept last despite challenges.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
