German transport and logistics giant Deutsche Post DHL on Thursday reported a 22% second-quarter gain in revenue, and confirmed its medium-term earnings guidance that had been raised last month.

The gains were fueled by the company's DHL Express unit, which reported a 30% gain in year-over-year revenue, and a rebound in its DHL Supply Chain business, which had struggled before the COVID-19 pandemic and then got hit again once the crisis enveloped the global shipping environment.

The company said it is on track to report record full-year operating earnings of more than $8.3 billion. By 2023, it expects to post operating income of more than $8.7 billion.

Earnings per share in the 2021 quarter more than doubled to $1.24, the company said.

The DHL Express division, which has performed well through the pandemic due to strong demand for international time-definite air express services, posted a 31.8% revenue gain to $7.1 billion. EBIT more than doubled to $1.14 billion. Shipment volumes rose 20.2%, with activity strong across all regions, Deutsche Post DHL said.

The company's supply chain unit posted a near sixfold rise in EBIT to $234 million, as the unit benefited from easy comparisons and higher demand for its contract logistics services. Revenue rose 21.3% to $3.9 billion. EBIT margins hit a record 6%, quintupling prior-year margin levels, Deutsche Post DHL said. 

The global forwarding unit reported a 64.2% year-on-year EBIT increase to $369.3 million, with revenue rising by more than $1 billion to $6.1 billion. Airfreight and ocean freight volumes rose by 35.7% and 20.5%, respectively, over 2020 levels severely affected by the pandemic. EBIT margins rose to 6% from 4.6% as the unit offset higher freight rates with productivity gains from digitization projects, the parent said.

Shares of Deutsche Post DHL rose slightly to $68.58 in midday trading in New York. Shares are up 61% over the past 12 months.