Feature, Freight News, Logistics, Sea

Container Shipping Profits Fall as Market Cools

[ March 20, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

Several major container shipping lines reported sharply lower earnings for 2025 as the industry continued to cool from the record profits generated during the pandemic-era freight boom.

Taiwan-based carrier Evergreen Marine Corp. said net profit attributable to shareholders fell 50.8 percent to about US$2.13 billion, on revenue of US$11.79 billion. Revenue declined 18.2 percent from 2024.

The company said it will distribute dividends totaling about US$1.08 billion to shareholders, representing a yield of roughly 7.7 percent based on its recent share price.

Hong Kong-based shipping group Orient Overseas (International) Limited, parent of Orient Overseas Container Line, also reported lower earnings. Profit attributable to shareholders totaled US$1.51 billion, down 58.5 percent from US$2.58 billion in 2024, while revenue reached US$9.72 billion.

The company recommended a dividend equal to about half of annual profit, or roughly US$753 million.

Taiwan carrier Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. also reported lower but positive results. The company posted revenue of US$5.24 billion, and after-tax profit of US$548 million. Yang Ming said it was its sixth consecutive year of profitability.

Despite declining profits across the sector, carriers reported steady operating performance and continued investment in fleet expansion and lower-emission vessels.

OOIL said liner liftings increased to 7.9 million TEU in 2025, with its container transport and logistics segment generating US$1.54 billion in operating profit and an operating margin of about 15.9 percent. The group ended the year with net cash of about US$5 billion.

Evergreen also pointed to continued investment in more fuel-efficient ships and route adjustments as it navigates changing market conditions, while Yang Ming said it continued renewing vessels and containers while adjusting service networks to match demand.

Container shipping markets were volatile throughout 2025. Trade tensions, shifting tariff policies and uneven global demand contributed to fluctuations in cargo volumes and freight rates, particularly on major east-west routes such as the trans-Pacific.

Security concerns in the Middle East also affected shipping operations, with some carriers rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Red Sea, extending voyage times and tightening available capacity on certain routes.

At the same time, shipping lines are preparing for tighter environmental rules and a wave of new vessel deliveries that could add capacity to the market. OOIL said it ordered fourteen 18,500-TEU methanol dual-fuel container ships scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2029, while Evergreen and Yang Ming are also investing in more fuel-efficient vessels.

According to maritime analyst Alphaliner, about 1.59 million TEU of new container ship capacity is expected to be delivered in 2026, with global supply projected to grow 3.8 percent while demand is forecast to rise 2.5 percent.

Industry analysts say the latest earnings reflect the continued normalization of container shipping after the extraordinary profits generated during the pandemic supply chain disruptions.

While demand growth has slowed, shipping lines remain financially strong after several years of elevated earnings, allowing them to maintain dividend payouts and invest in fleet upgrades and alternative fuels as the industry prepares for the next phase of the market cycle.

Two major container shipping companies reported sharply lower earnings for 2025 as the industry continued to cool from the record profits generated during the pandemic-era freight boom.

Taiwan-based carrier Evergreen Marine Corp. said net profit attributable to shareholders fell 50.8 percent to US$2.13 billion, on revenue of $11.79 billion. Revenue declined 18.2 percent from 2024.

The company said it will distribute dividends totaling US$1.08 billion, to shareholders, with a yield of about 7.7 percent.

Hong Kong-based shipping group Orient Overseas (International) Limited, parent of Orient Overseas Container Line, also reported lower earnings. Profit attributable to shareholders totaled US$1.51 billion, down 58.5 percent from US$2.58 billion in 2024, while revenue reached US$9.72 billion.

The company recommended a dividend equal to about half of annual profit, or roughly US$753 million.

Despite the decline in profitability, both carriers reported solid operating performance and continued investment in fleet expansion and lower-emission vessels.

OOIL said liner liftings increased to 7.9 million TEU in 2025, with its container transport and logistics segment generating US$1.54 billion in operating profit and an operating margin of about 15.9 percent. The group ended the year with net cash of about US$5 billion.

Evergreen also pointed to continued investment in more fuel-efficient ships and route adjustments as it navigates changing market conditions.

Container shipping markets were volatile throughout 2025. Trade tensions, shifting tariff policies and uneven global demand contributed to fluctuations in cargo volumes and freight rates, particularly on major east-west routes such as the transpacific.

Carriers are also preparing for tighter environmental rules and a wave of new vessel deliveries that could add capacity to the market. OOIL said it ordered fourteen 18,500-TEU methanol dual-fuel container ships scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2029, while Evergreen continues to modernize its fleet with more fuel-efficient vessels.

Industry analysts say the latest earnings reflect the continued normalization of container shipping after the extraordinary profits generated during the pandemic supply chain disruptions.

While demand growth has slowed, shipping lines remain financially strong after several years of elevated earnings, allowing them to maintain dividend payouts and invest in fleet upgrades and alternative fuels as the industry prepares for the next phase of the market cycle.

Tags: Evergreen Marine Corp, OOCL, Yang Ming