The world´s largest trade fair for logistics, mobility, IT and supply chain management, which closes today in Munich, has turned in not only an increase in the number of exhibitors – it has also attracted more visitors than ever before: over 51,000 trade visitors from 134 countries came to the fair. "The atmosphere in the halls was exceptionally business-focused and positive, very forward-looking really. The sector finds itself in a strong upwards trend," said Eugen Egetenmeir, Managing Director of Messe München.
 
Visitor numbers to transport logistic increased by seven percent, and most of that rise was accounted for by visitors from outside Germany. In total the number of countries of origin represented among the visitors rose to 134 this year, from 112 last time. "transport logistic 2011 is more international than ever before. It is a unique opportunity to meet up not only with customers and friends but also with our competitors," said Monika Ribar, CEO of Panalpina Welttransporte.
 
Transport policymakers were also impressed by the international scope of the fair. "In 2011 transport logistic has lived up to its reputation: it is the largest and most important transport and logistics fair worldwide. I am deeply impressed by the many exhibitors who are taking part, particularly from abroad. All parts of the world are represented here," said Germany´s Transport Minister, Dr Peter Ramsauer, at the opening event.
 
His colleague from Luxembourg, Jeannot Krecké, Minister of the Economy and Foreign Trade, concurred: "This trade fair is really tremendous. It would have taken a long time travelling to see all the CEOs that I have met here. You really do meet everyone here, in particular all the top people in the logistics business."
 
This opinion was also shared by the exhibitors – and what was more important to them was that in Munich they could get a real sense of the economic upturn. "The halls were amazingly full, our meeting rooms were booked up all the time. Business is picking up again and we in the logistics sector are the first to really feel the recovery in industry," said Katja Herbst, Member of the Divisional Board of DHL Paket Deutschland Vertrieb.
 
Klemens Rethmann, CEO of Rhenus, agreed: "Our expectations of transport logistic, the leading international trade fair, were more than fulfilled. We were delighted at the large number of visitors, particularly those from abroad. The audience here was top class and they came along to Munich not only to gather information but also to discuss and take decisions on investment."
 
After Germany, the top ten countries of origin for visitors were (in this order:) Austria, Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic, France, Belgium, Poland, Great Britain and Hungary.
 
The eight exhibition halls and the open-air site were closely packed this year, with 1,893 companies from 59 countries. These figures for the exhibitors also represent a seven-percent rise over the last event. Most of the rise of around 130 companies came as a result of increased international interest. The international proportion among the exhibitors thus rose to around 44 percent. The strongest rises were recorded from the Baltic and Benelux countries, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.
 
The commercial vehicles sector was back again in 2011, following the crisis year in 2009 when it had been almost entirely absent at the fair. Markus Lipinsky, Managing Director of Daimler FleetBoard: "The broad international scope of the fair, coupled with the professionalism and large number of trade visitors, are what make transport logistic a real communications highlight for us. It is an important milestone as regards the future orientation of our growth activities."
 
The conference programme at transport logistic 2011, which featured the trade conferences Air Cargo Europe and marilog, attracted more than 4,300 participants. Most interest focused on the subject of 'green logistics'. "transport logistic 2011 chose exactly the right emphasis. The general consensus in the forums was that ecology and economy can go hand in hand. Because when you have environmental benefits as well as price and cost advantages, then everyone wins: the climate, the companies and the customers," was the conclusion of Thomas Hailer, Managing Director of Deutsches Verkehrsforum; Mr Hailer organised one of the 'green' panel discussions.
 
The next transport logistic takes place from 4 to 7 June 2013.
 
Further information: www.transportlogistic.de

About Messe München International (MMI)
Messe München International (MMI) is one of the world´s leading trade-fair companies. It organises around 40 trade fairs for capital and consumer goods, and key high-tech industries. Each year over 30,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, and over two million visitors from more than 200 countries take part in the events in Munich. In addition, MMI organises trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and South America. Via its six subsidiaries – in Europe and in Asia – and 64 foreign representatives actively serving over 90 countries, MMI has a worldwide business network. Environmental protection and sustainability are key priorities in all MMI´s operations, at home and abroad.
 
Further information: www.messe-muenchen.de

Press contact:
Petra Gagel   
Phone +49 89 949-21470, Fax +49 89 949-9721470
E-mail: petra.gagel@messe-muenchen.de

Closing report transport logistic 2011 (DOC)

The world´s largest trade exhibition of logistics, telematics and transport came to a close in Munich with a new record for exhibition space and exhibitors, and with around 48,000 trade visitors. "This result has far exceeded all expectations. Here in Munich the industry has demonstrated impressively that despite the crisis it is flexible, adaptable and innovative in its forward-thinking," said Eugen Egetenmeir, a member of the Management Board of Messe München.
 
The outstanding role of transport logistic as the world´s number one trade fair for the global transport and logistics sector in these difficult times was also honoured by political leaders: "The tremendous interest in this year´s transport logistic is a positive signal for the entire sector. A very clear impetus is coming from this event and this place – and that is just what we need," said Germany´s Minister of Transport, Wolfgang Tiefensee, at the official opening of the exhibition.
 
Tiefensee´s counterpart in the Netherlands, Transport Minister Camiel Eurlings, concurred: "The expansion experienced by transport logistic is sending an important sign: it is giving us hope again in tough times. This event is without doubt the largest trade fair in this sector."
 
This view was also shared by the exhibitors and visitors at transport logistic 2009. A survey conducted by tns Infratest showed that 70 percent of the exhibiting companies and 58 percent of the trade visitors were expecting the economic situation to improve in the coming two years. Michael Kubenz, President of Germany´s forwarding and logistics association, Deutscher Speditions- und Logistikverband (DSLV), and Chairman of the Advisory Board of transport logistic, commented: "transport logistic 2009 is giving us real encouragement. It is sending valuable signals and providing impetus for the future of our industry."
 
Although companies are currently restricting travel by their employees, the exhibition nevertheless attracted around 48,000 visitors, which is the same number as in the logistics boom year of 2007. The exhibitors noted in particular the high quality of the company representatives and found that discussions with customers were more intensive than ever before. The fact that over one third of the visitors came from the forwarding industry and trade was rated positively by the exhibitors. Birgit Kastner-Simon, Division Manager Corporate Marketing at Dachser: "Once again transport logistic has proven to be a real highlight for the sector and the forwarding business. Particularly in times like these, the importance of such a wide-ranging communication platform increases enormously. Very good contacts, lots of new leads and lots of valuable information – those were our findings at the fair." Christian Marnetté, Deputy Member of the Sales & Marketing Management at Kühne + Nagel, added: "We achieved a new contacts record and the quality of visitors was very high. In our company transport logistic gets the attention of the top management – every day there are managing directors here at the stand."
 
After Germany, the top ten countries of origin among the visitors were, in this order: Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, France, Poland, Great Britain, Hungary and Belgium. 32 percent of the trade visitors came from abroad. Which meant the proportion of trade visitors from outside Germany was slightly up on last time. Monika Ribar, President of Panalpina Worldtransport: "The location of Germany is a strong country for logistics in Europe. transport logistic goes beyond that – it crosses all borders. That is especially important for the sector and it is what makes the fair what it is." Dr Andreas Otto, Product and Sales Director at Lufthansa Cargo also sees it this way: "When I see how many customers are here and above all who is here, and how much positive energy there is around, then I am already certain that this has been a worthwhile investment."
 
A total of 1,760 companies from 55 countries put on their presentations in the exhibition halls – a rise of eleven percent when compared to the last event. On display was a wide range of innovations and services for intelligent and environmentally friendly management of the worldwide flow of goods. Among the exhibitors, too, there was a strong international presence, at 41 percent. Klemens Rethmann, Chairman of Rhenus Logistic: "We really enjoyed the time at transport logistic because for a change, we heard nothing about the crisis here. The trade fair is a great platform for intensifying contacts, forging new ones and getting to know new customers. And very productive business can result from that. This is also the place where you can meet competitors and international customers from all over the world."
 
The conference programme at transport logistic 2009 and the trade conferences Air Cargo Europe, marilog and Eurasia were very much in demand. The participants made use of the programme of over 30 further trade events to find out about entrepreneurial strategies for overcoming the crisis, technologies such as RFID, innovative customer-service concepts, growth markets such as Turkey, Brazil and Croatia, and green logistics. "The forums gave the sector not just information, but also valuable impetus. Green logistics, for example, has now been grasped as a real challenge," explained Professor Dr Uwe Clausen, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics.
 
The next transport logistic takes place from 10 to 13 May 2011.
 
Further information: www. transportlogistic.de

About Messe München International (MMI)
Messe München International (MMI) is one of the world´s leading trade-fair organisers. It organises around 40 trade fairs for capital and consumer goods, and key high-tech industries. Each year over 30,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, and over two million visitors from more than 200 countries take part in the events in Munich. In addition, MMI organises trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and South America. With six subsidiaries abroad – in Europe and in Asia – and with 66 foreign representatives serving 89 countries, MMI has a truly global network.
 
Press contact:
Petra Gagel                                                                                                                                     
Tel.: +49 89 / 9 49-20244
Fax: +49 89 / 9 49-20249
e-mail: petra.gagel@messe-muenchen.de

17d/MarComGB1/pet