A.P. Moller – Maersk A/S (Maersk) has revised its global container market volume growth forecast to a range of -1% to 4%, citing increased macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty. The company expects to grow in line with the market, as it anticipates continued disruptions in the Red Sea for the remainder of the year.
Despite the more cautious industry outlook, Maersk is maintaining its full-year 2025 financial guidance. The company reaffirms its expectations for:
- Underlying EBITDA: USD 6–9 billion
- Underlying EBIT: USD 0–3 billion
- Free Cash Flow: At least negative USD 3.0 billion
Maersk reported a solid financial performance in the first quarter of 2025, with revenue rising 7.8% year-over-year to USD 13.3 billion. Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) surged to USD 1.3 billion, a substantial increase from USD 177 million in Q1 2024. While sequentially lower, these results mark a strong start to the year, driven by gains across key business segments.
Segment Highlights – Q1 2025:
Ocean: EBIT improved to USD 743 million, reflecting higher freight rates and stable volumes. The segment benefited from strong vessel utilisation, cost control measures, and the successful rollout of the new East-West network in February, which is on track to deliver greater reliability and efficiency.
Logistics & Services: EBIT margin rose to 4.1%, supported by growth in multiple service lines and a continued focus on productivity. Freight management revenue grew by 18%, mainly due to Project Logistics, while fulfilment services also contributed through operational improvements.
Terminals: The segment delivered robust volume growth, higher revenue per move, and increased storage income. Efficiency gains from automation and better capacity utilisation helped push Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) up to 14.5%.
CEO Vincent Clerc emphasized the company’s operational momentum and resilience: “We delivered strong results compared to the same quarter last year, driven by improved efficiency and a global economy that held steady in early 2025. As trade tensions and uncertainty grow, supply chains are again under pressure—and we’re well-positioned to support our customers with the full strength of our logistics network.”
Clerc added that Maersk is intensifying its efforts around automation and cost control to navigate the uncertain environment: “These initiatives, along with the reliability of our Ocean network and the strength of our logistics offerings, give us the confidence to stay on course with our financial targets for the year.”
