COSCO Shipping in 2025: Container Volumes Rise 6% as Digitalization and Green Fleet Expansion Accelerate

Amid a challenging operational environment dictated by shifts in global trade policies and market volatility, COSCO Shipping Holdings maintained a stable operational performance in 2025.

The group's container transport volume hit the 27.4 million TEU mark in 2025, representing a 5.76% year-on-year increase. However, container shipping revenue was recorded at RMB 210.7 billion (approximately $30.57 billion), a 6.74% drop compared to the same period last year, starkly reflecting the broader reality of a downward-trending freight rate environment.

A notable bright spot was supply chain revenue (excluding ocean freight), which posted a 9.6% year-on-year growth to reach RMB 44.9 billion. This figure testifies to the success of the carrier's strategy to expand its end-to-end logistics services.

Regarding fleet capacity, total carrying capacity reached 3.6 million TEUs, with owned and bareboat-chartered vessels accounting for 75% of the total capacity. Throughout 2025, the carrier also took delivery of 12 newbuilds, each with a capacity of 16,000 TEUs.

The port operations division also reported positive signals, with terminal revenue rising 11.4% year-on-year to RMB 12.04 billion. Total throughput handled by Cosco Shipping Ports reached 153 million TEUs, a 6.2% increase from the previous year.

Three Strategic Pillars for the New Phase

COSCO Shipping Holdings stated that throughout 2025, the group remained steadfast in its core strategies and deepened its corporate restructuring, focusing its future growth momentum on three primary pillars:

● Green transition commitment: The carrier took delivery of and commissioned three green methanol dual-fuel container ships in 2025. It also placed newbuild orders for an additional 14 methanol dual-fuel vessels of 18,500 TEUs, bringing the total number of green ships in operation and under construction to 42, with a combined capacity of nearly 780,000 TEUs.

● Global service network expansion: The group actively promoted cooperation within the Ocean Alliance and rolled out its "hub + corridor + network" strategy. Cosco has established integrated logistics networks revolving around the Port of Chancay (Peru) and Yangpu Port (China), while simultaneously acquiring critical logistics assets in Thailand, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil to build a comprehensive global service system.

● Strengthening digitalization: The group is accelerating its "AI+" strategy and its global digital supply chain platform.

Looking ahead to 2026, COSCO Shipping Holdings forecasts that the global container shipping industry will continue to face high levels of complexity and uncertainty, driven by geopolitical tensions and the reshaping of global trade patterns. In this context, the group will resolutely focus on meeting the needs of global customers and steadily pushing forward its key development initiatives.

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Source: Phaata.com (According to Seatrade-Maritime)

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