The quarterly results published by Maersk, as reported by , explain the current state of health of global trade, for which they are considered a fundamental indicator. The data for the first quarter of 2026 from the largest publicly traded shipping and logistics company confirm the negative trend of the Ocean segment (i.e., pure maritime transport) from the last quarter of 2025, moving from a loss of 153 million dollars to a loss of 192 million dollars.
The Maersk Group as a whole nevertheless managed to stay afloat, closing with a pre-tax profit (Ebit) of 340 million dollars on a turnover of 6.7 billion. The result, explained by CEO Vincent Clerc, depended on a diversification strategy initiated in previous years: while ships lose money due to the collapse of rates, the terminals managed by Apm and logistics services have compensated for the deficit in the shipping sector data.
The heaviest figures reported by Clerc concern the indirect impact of geopolitical tensions on operating costs: it is not just about longer routes, but the price of fuel which has reached 1,000 dollars per ton, thus increasing the price by almost two-thirds compared to standard levels.
This surge costs Maersk approximately 500 million dollars extra every month and subjects the company to financial pressure that can no longer be absorbed internally – the CEO explained – informing that, consequently, these costs will be passed on to customers, defining this as a necessary move.
Apparently contradictory seems the data on the growth of transported volumes, which increased by 9%: contrary to previous forecasts that spoke of a drop in demand after the Chinese New Year, exports from China instead accelerated, but the real problem lies in rates which collapsed a further 14% in this quarter.
Clerc indicated overcapacity as the main cause of this rate reduction: the entry into the market of a record number of new ships is creating an excess of supply that pushes prices downward. The company’s countermove was to push operational efficiency to the maximum, reducing unit costs by 7% and maintaining fleet utilization very close to saturation (96%).
Despite the uncertainties, Maersk, in a long-term vision, has ordered eight new ships of 18,600 Teu which are scheduled for 2029-2030, continuing the renewal of its fleet with more efficient and less polluting vessels.
The company also confirmed that six ships are currently stuck in the Persian Gulf. Regarding forecasts for the rest of 2026, global container market growth is estimated between 2% and 4%, with uncertainty nevertheless persisting. Even in the hypothesis of a rapid reopening of the Suez Canal, Maersk warns that the shockwave on fuel prices and market volatility will be felt for many more months.
