Maersk Raises 2026 EBITDA Guidance After Strong Third Quarter
Cubierto por 5 fuentesPublicado
- sea trade maritimeMaersk ups full year forecast as ocean drives Q3 profits
- maersk_pressreleaseMaersk converts market opportunities into significantly higher earnings and raises full-year guidance
- Data PortuariaMaersk capitaliza oportunidades de mercado con ganancias significativamente mayores y eleva su previsión para el año completo
- Trade newsAP Moller-Maersk hikes forecast as profit rises in third quarter
- GCAPTAIN_NEWSMaersk Slides as Upgraded Guidance Is Lower Than Anticipated
AP Moller-Maersk raised its full-year 2026 earnings guidance, now projecting underlying EBITDA of between $14,000 million and $14,500 million, up from the previous range of $10,500 million to $12,500 million, and EBIT of between $8,000 million and $8,500 million, up from the previously forecast $4,500 million to $6,500 million. The revision came after a third quarter in which the Danish carrier reported higher profits, driven by resilient global trade and port congestion.
In the third quarter, Maersk posted EBIT of $3,270 million, up from $1,280 million in the same period of 2025, with group revenue rising to $18,100 million from $14,200 million a year earlier. The Ocean segment was the main driver of this improvement, with EBIT of $2,600 million compared to $576 million (according to Seatrade Maritime) or $567 million (according to Maersk's own statement) the previous year.
The company attributed the boost to a strong typhoon season in Asia that caused significant port congestion and absorbed a large share of available vessel capacity. Average port waiting times worldwide peaked at 16.6 hours, the highest level since January 2023, which in turn drove a 46% increase in the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) spot rate index during the quarter compared to the previous one. CEO Vincent Clerc noted that, despite geopolitical uncertainty, global trade remained notably resilient and that demand is being driven not only by consumption but also by major investments in electrification, energy and the expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The rest of the business units also showed improvements: the terminals division, under APM Terminals, posted EBIT of $493 million, down from $571 million a year earlier, although it achieved record revenue according to the company itself, while Logistics & Services reported EBIT of $259 million, up from $218 million in 2025, with revenue growth of 13% and an EBIT margin that improved to 5.8% from 5.5%. Among the period's investments, APM Terminals began construction on the new greenfield Laldia terminal in Chattogram, Bangladesh, and started operating the Suape terminal in Pernambuco, Brazil, in addition to ordering 26 dual-fuel containerships with a capacity of 18,600 TEU each, with deliveries expected in 2029 and 2030.
Despite the improved outlook, Maersk's shares fell as much as 11.6% on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange, their biggest drop since April 2025, as the guidance came in below the average analyst estimate of $8,660 million compiled by Bloomberg. Analysts such as Mikkel Emil Jensen of AL Sydbank noted that the Ocean business showed somewhat weaker-than-expected volume growth and higher-than-expected costs, while Haider Anjum of Jyske Bank described the results as solid but not solid enough, warning about how long the effects of the Hormuz disruptions, the typhoons and the port congestion will last.
