The economic trend of DB Group in 2023 was marked by additional burdens, primarily from the expansion of measures to improve the quality and availability of the rail infrastructure, which were prefinanced to a considerable extent (> € 1 billion) for the Federal Government. Higher costs due to inflation (including for personnel and purchased services) also had an effect. The result for passenger transport was at the same weak level as in the previous year. At DB Schenker, profit development was weaker than in the exceptionally strong previous year, although it remained well above the pre-Covid-19 level. A price-related improved development at DB Cargo and DB Energy had a positive effect.

Operating profit figures fell noticeably; adjusted EBIT was negative. In passenger and rail freight transport the profit situation remained under pressure.

• In the Integrated Rail System, higher expenses, in particular for materials (especially additional infrastructure measures prefinanced for the Federal Government), and personnel (capacity expansion and collective bargaining agreement effects) exceeded revenue growth as a result of performance gains in passenger transport, higher concession fees at DB Regional as well as price effects at DB Energy and DB Cargo.
• Operating profit development at DB Schenker was weaker, driven mainly by the development of freight rates in air and ocean freight, but remained well above the pre-Covid-19 levels.

Additional information is available in the section “Development of business units”.

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