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Earnings forecast raised
A.P. Møller Maersk has upgraded its full-year 2026 guidance after stronger container demand, particularly from the Far East, and a sustained rise in spot freight rates improved the group’s earnings outlook.
The Danish carrier now expects underlying EBITDA of USD 8bn to USD 10bn, up from its previous range of USD 4.5bn to USD 7bn. Underlying EBIT is forecast at USD 2bn to USD 4bn, compared with earlier guidance ranging from a USD 1.5bn loss to a USD 1bn profit. Free cash flow is now expected to be at least negative USD 1.5bn, improving from the previous outlook of at least negative USD 3bn.
Far East demand supports rates
The upgrade points to a container market that has tightened faster than expected. Maersk said the improved outlook is based on global container market volume growth of about 4% for 2026, compared with its earlier forecast of 2% to 4%.
For shippers, the message is straightforward. Demand from Asia is again putting pressure on available capacity and spot pricing. Like a warehouse filling faster than planned before a peak season, the container market has less room to absorb sudden changes when demand rises quickly.
Reuters reported that Maersk lifted its 2026 earnings forecast because of robust container shipping demand, especially in Asia, with the new EBITDA and EBIT ranges matching the company’s announcement.
Q2 results due in August
Maersk is scheduled to publish its full second-quarter interim results on 13 August 2026. The company’s investor calendar states that the Q2 financial report will be released at around 8:00 a.m. CEST, followed by a conference call and webcast for investors and analysts at 11:00 a.m. CEST.
The results will give carriers, forwarders and cargo owners a clearer view of whether the current rate environment is being driven mainly by real cargo growth, front-loaded shipments, network disruption, or a mix of all three.
Market impact
For the wider logistics sector, the revised guidance is another sign that the container market remains difficult to read. Higher spot rates may support carrier earnings, but they can also complicate planning for shippers moving retail, industrial and project-related cargo across long-haul trade lanes.
Maersk operates in more than 130 countries and employs around 100,000 people. The group has also maintained its target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its business by 2040.
Source: Maersk
