Container Line Profits Plunged in Q2 2025

In Q1 2025, despite market instability and a volatile geopolitical landscape, major carriers recorded a combined EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes) of $5.89 billion, a figure second only to Q1 during the golden period of 2021-2023. However, these market fluctuations continued into Q2, with shifts in volumes and persistent downward pressure on freight rates.

As a result, these same major carriers recorded a combined EBIT of just $2.73 billion in Q2. This figure is not only lower than Q2 during the 2021-2024 period but only slightly higher than in 2020. This means that, while still profitable, Q2 2025 saw relatively lower profitability compared to most recent years.

 Source: Sea-Intelligence

Analyzing Operating Profit via EBIT/TEU

To assess operating profitability in the container shipping industry, the EBIT/TEU (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes per TEU) metric is used. In Q2 2025, all major carriers reported a positive EBIT/TEU, ranging from $12/TEU (ONE) to $249/TEU (OOCL).

A detailed analysis reveals a clear divergence in performance among the carriers:

•    Group with EBIT/TEU below $100/TEU: Includes COSCO ($79/TEU), Hapag-Lloyd ($53/TEU), Maersk ($35/TEU), and ONE ($12/TEU).

•    Group with EBIT/TEU from $100-200/TEU: Includes HMM ($176/TEU) and ZIM ($167/TEU).

•    The Leader: OOCL ($249/TEU).

(Note: Q2 2025 data for Yang Ming is missing due to unreleased volume figures, and for CMA CGM due to unreleased EBIT figures).

Divergence Between Major Trade Lanes

The Q2 2025 financial reports also revealed a market with a stark divergence between the two main trade lanes: the Transpacific and Asia-Europe.

The Asia-Europe trade recorded strong volume growth, with 3 out of 6 reporting carriers seeing double-digit year-over-year growth in volumes on this lane. In contrast, the Transpacific trade experienced a widespread decline in volumes.

See more:

• HMM Restructures its Asia-North America Service Network: Suspends PS5 Service, Adjusts Several Others
• August's Global Air Cargo Paradox: Demand Rose 5% Despite Economic Instability
• Etihad Cargo Reports Positive H1 2025 Performance with 9% Revenue Growth
• The 2025 Carrier Alliance Reshuffle: Defining the 'Winners and Losers' Among European Ports
• International Shipping and Logistics Market Update - Week 36/2025 | Phaata
• August Air Cargo Market: Rates in a Lull Ahead of a Peak Season Tipped to Shift Away from China
• Ocean Rates Flatline Despite Falling Volumes, Challenging Carrier GRI Efforts
• Market Paradox: Secondhand Containership Prices Surge Despite Plummeting Freight Rates
• Golden Week 2025: Market Braces for Last-Minute Blank Sailings on the Transpacific
• COSCO schedules: Vietnam - North America in Sep 2025
• COSCO updates Vietnam-North Europe sailing schedules in Sep 2025
• SITC updates Vietnam-Intra Asia sailing schedules in Sep 2025

Source: Phaata.com (According to Sea-Intelligence)

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