While financial results softened, operational data points to resilience. Global transported volumes grew for 6 of the 7 reporting carriers, suggesting that the influx of new vessel deliveries and reworked service networks have allowed shipping lines to absorb the longer Red Sea transit times without the panic-pricing seen last year.
Figure 1 illustrates the development in unit profitability (EBIT per TEU). COSCO recorded the highest /TEU in 2025-Q3 at 350 /TEU, followed by ZIM at 280 /TEU. These were the only two carriers to maintain unit profitability above 200 /TEU.
The remaining major carriers – ONE (85 /TEU), Maersk (83 /TEU), and Hapag-Lloyd (65 /TEU) – saw their margins compress significantly, dropping below the 100 /TEU mark. This stands in sharp contrast to the same period last year, where the lowest /TEU in this group was 335 /TEU, highlighting the extent of the post-peak market correction.
The post Sea-Intelligence: 2025-Q3 Carrier Financials, Post-Peak Correction appeared first on Container News.
