Maersk lifts 2026 profit outlook as Q3 earnings jump

Danish shipping and logistics group A.P. Moller-Maersk reported a sharp rise in third-quarter earnings and raised its full-year guidance, citing higher freight rates and steady volumes. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were $4.7 billion, up from $2.7 billion a year earlier. EBIT gave an 18.1% margin.

Chief executive Vincent Clerc said Maersk delivered a strong quarter across its businesses, and that global trade has stayed resilient despite geopolitical disruption. He said the fleet has been operating at full capacity, with demand exceeding available space on some routes.

Ocean EBIT jumped to $2.6 billion from $567 million a year earlier. Weather in Asia limited capacity and loadings. Maersk said global container demand grew roughly 2% to 4% year on year, supported by electrification, energy and AI infrastructure investment.

Spot rates, measured by the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index, rose 46% from the previous quarter. A severe typhoon season in Asia caused heavy port congestion, with global average port waiting times peaking at 16.6 hours, the highest since January 2023.

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