The sale of DB Schenker to DSV has received the green light from the European antitrust authority. The European Commission made the announcement on 9 April 2025, specifying that the decision had been taken the day before, thus meeting the deadline set for that date. The transaction had already been approved by Deutsche Bahn’s supervisory board and by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. To complete the acquisition, DSV must now obtain the final go-ahead from the United States Department of Justice.
The deal will bring Deutsche Bahn €14.3 billion, but the German rail company will part with a profitable business, which remained so even in 2024 despite the difficult economic climate. In that year, DB Schenker generated a turnover of €19.2 billion, with an adjusted operating profit (Ebit) of around €1.1 billion. By contrast, the Deutsche Bahn Group as a whole reported losses, ending the year with a net negative result of €1.8 billion.From an operational perspective, the latest figures refer to the first half of 2024, during which DB Schenker recorded growth in all its main business areas. It handled 54.1 million shipments in land transport, marking a 7.1% increase compared to the same period in 2023. In air freight (export), it moved 576.7 thousand tonnes, a 1.0% rise, while in sea freight (export), it transported 896.1 thousand TEUs, an increase of 1.5%.
