Orient Overseas (International) Ltd. (OOIL), parent company of Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) and owned by Cosco Shipping, reported strong results for the first half of 2025. The group posted a net profit of $954 million, up from $833 million in the same period of 2024. Revenues also climbed to $4.88 billion, compared with $4.65 billion a year earlier. The company credited higher volumes and capacity expansion, with total liftings rising 7% year-on-year to 3.9 million TEU and fleet capacity increasing to 4.7 million TEU, up from 4.4 million TEU. Liner revenues advanced by 4%, marking the best post-pandemic improvement despite being a single-digit gain.
Market Conditions
The company warned of challenges ahead, particularly from new U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) port charges set to take effect in October, which it said would have a significant impact on Chinese carriers. OOIL emphasized that frequent shifts in tariff policies have disrupted long-term planning, weakened customer confidence, and put downward pressure on freight rates, particularly on Transpacific services. A temporary 90-day tariff suspension between China and the U.S. sparked a short-lived rebound in rates in May, but levels quickly fell again.
Industry Outlook
OOIL noted the highly dynamic nature of the global shipping industry, citing uncertainties such as Red Sea disruptions, new vessel deliveries, the global economic outlook, and tightening environmental regulations. The company highlighted the resilience of non-Transpacific trades, where liftings have held up relatively well, supported by supply chain restructuring, seasonal factors, and port congestion. Nonetheless, the influx of new capacity and increased competition, combined with shifting shipper behavior toward a wait-and-see approach, continue to weigh on the market.
Strategic Direction
Despite these headwinds, OOIL reaffirmed its strategy of strengthening cooperation with parent company Cosco Shipping to optimize costs and manage risks. The group views regionalization of trade and the restructuring of supply chains as potential opportunities to refine strategies in segmented markets. OOIL stressed that while uncertainties persist, its strong financial base and operational scale provide resilience in navigating volatile market conditions.
