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Hapag-Lloyd Lowers ’25 Result Despite Record Q1

[ May 1, 2025   //   ]

German container shipping line Hapag-Lloyd reported first quarter first quarter earnings up 17 percent, while forecasting lower earnings expectations for 2025.

Operating profit jumped 24 percent, to US$500 million in the first quarter, while revenue rose nearly 19 percent to US$5.1 billion. Strong demand pushed transport volume and average freight rates up 9 percent to 3.3 million TEUs carried and US$1,480 per TEU, respectively.

It was the third-best operating result in company history, with strong container demand and higher spot freight rates – though those increases may have as much to do with shippers putting cargo on the water sooner to avoid Trump’s tariffs.

“We got 2025 off to a good start in the first quarter, but the market environment is currently characterized by many uncertainties. We therefore continue to expect lower results for 2025 as a whole,” said Rolf Habben Jansen, Hapag-Lloyd CEO.

Hapag-Lloyd’s executive board expects fiscal year 2025 operating income of zero to US$1.5 billion, pointing to uncertainties such as the Red Sea crises and confliction actions on Trump’s tariffs.

Habben Jansen pointed to implementation of Hapag-Lloyd’s Strategy 2030, its program for quality, sustainability and digitalization and the February launch of its Gemini Cooperation, it’s long-term operational partnership with Maersk, the largest newbuild program in the history, as well as further expansion of its Hanseatic Global Terminals business.

“At the same time, we will make our fleet even more efficient and continue to decarbonize it. In addition, we will keep a close eye on our costs and work intensively on becoming even more digital and efficient,” he said.

Also at the general meeting, shareholders approved a dividend of US$9.32, and re-elected Isabella Niklas, managing director of HGV (Hamburger Gesellschaft für Vermögens- und Beteiligungsmanagement mbH), to the supervisory board.

Hapag-Lloyd operates a fleet of 299 modern container ships with transport capacity of 2.3 million TEUs. Details on key figures are available for download at https://hlag-2024.corporate-report.net/.

(From left) Leon Schulz, Donya-Amer Florence, Stefanie Confurius and Rolf Habben Jansen participate in Hapag-Lloyd’s Diversity Day 2025. PHOTO: Hapag-Lloyd

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