Maersk delivered a strong second quarter, driven by higher container volumes, rising Ocean spot rates and growth across its three core businesses, prompting the Danish shipping and logistics group to sharply raise its full-year earnings guidance. Revenue rose 20% year on year to US$15.8 billion, while EBITDA increased to US$3 billion from US$2.3 billion.
EBIT almost doubled to US$1.6 billion, taking the group’s EBIT margin to 10%. Ocean led the improvement, with revenue up 23% and EBIT reaching US$935 million, compared with US$229 million a year earlier and a US$192 million loss in Q1 2026. Loaded volumes rose 4.1%, while average freight rates increased 22% and vessel utilisation reached 96%.
Maersk said strong demand, tighter capacity and increasingly unbalanced trade flows pushed spot rates higher. Congestion in Europe, the Middle East, West Africa and the East Coast of South America further tightened capacity. Disruption around the Strait of Hormuz also reshaped cargo flows, with Gulf-bound shipments diverted through alternative ports and inland routes.
Demand remained particularly strong for imports into Africa, North America and Latin America, while exports from the Far East, especially China, continued to grow. “The second quarter was yet another proof point of the new era of heightened volatility we have entered,” said Maersk chief executive Vincent Clerc.
Logistics & Services also strengthened, with revenue up 15% and EBIT rising to US$217 million from US$175 million. Landside operations, forwarding and new logistics contracts supported the improvement. Terminals delivered a solid performance, with volumes up 2.2% and revenue rising 11% to US$458 million in EBIT.