In sea freight a margin improvement was achieved in the third quarter. The air freight, overland and contract logistics businesses contributed to significant profitability increases. The business development in the first nine months of 2017 confirms our strategic focus on value-creating solutions and makes us confident to reach our profitability targets we have set ourselves for the full business year," said Detlef Trefzger, CEO of Kuehne + Nagel International AG. Air Freight In the first nine months of the year, Kuehne + Nagel increased volumes by 19 percent (+180,000 tons), growing more than twice as fast as the market. A key factor for this positive development was the company's comprehensive offering of industry-specific airfreight solutions. New business was won in the pharmaceutical, high-tech and automotive industries.