By Mucahithan Avcioglu
ISTANBUL (AA) - Danish shipping giant Maersk said its operating profit came above market expectations in the third quarter of the year, raising its full-year guidance driven by rising container volumes.
Seen as a bellwether for global trade, Maersk posted earnings of $2.68 billion before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for the July-September period of 2025, according to financial results released on Thursday.
The profit was above market expectations for the quarter, while falling sharply by 44% from the $4.8 billion in the same period of 2024.
The revenues were also down 10% year-on-year to $14.2 billion in the same period.
Meanwhile, Maersk raised its full-year operating profit forecast to between $9 billion and $9.5 billion, up from the previous guidance of $8 billion to $9.5 billion.
It also raised its previous projection range of 2% to 4% released in August to 4% for the growth of worldwide container volumes this year.
"In the third quarter of 2025, global container demand grew between 3% and 5% year-on-year, defiant of disruptions," the company said in a statement. "Exports out of Far East Asia, and especially China, continue to be the main driver of solid volume growth."
Europe, Africa, Latin America, and West Central Asia boosted imports, but container volumes to North America decreased, especially in shipments from China to the US, the logistics company said.
Maersk said the Red Sea disruption is expected to last for the full year. Its shares went down around 5.4% as of 0910GMT after the financial results release.