Maersk reports sharp drop in profits due to falling shipping demand

Photo: Maersk

The Danish shipping giant Maersk has reported its first quarter 2023 results. Continued destocking and easing of congestions implied lower volumes across all segments. Revenue declined by 26% to USD 14.2bn from USD 19.3bn. EBITDA decreased to USD 4.0bn from USD 9.1bn, and EBIT to USD 2.3bn from USD 7.3bn. The full-year guidance remains unchanged, with Q1 expected to be the strongest quarter of the year.

“We delivered a solid financial performance in a challenging market with lower demand caused by a continued destocking. Visibility remains low for the remainder of the year and moving through this market normalisation, we remain focused on proactively managing costs. As we adjust to a radically changed business environment, we continue to support our customers in addressing their supply chain challenges. We are pleased to note that customers continue to value the integrated logistics solutions and close partnership we provide”, says Vincent Clerc, CEO of Maersk.

Ocean revenue decreased by USD 5.7bn to USD 9.9bn. Profitability for the quarter was significantly lower compared to Q1 2022, primarily due to lower freight rates and volumes, as demand softened.