A.P. Moller-Maersk is expecting a difficult period for Maersk Line

A.P. Moller-Maersk group reckons with a slightly positive result for the container shipping division in 2011:

According to the estimate of the A.P. Moller-Maersk management the worldwide active container shipping line Maersk Line will be facing a difficult second half of the year. The global supply of new tonnage is expected to grow more than the freight volumes particularly on the Asia to Europe trade lane. This combined with high bunker and time charter costs might impact margins negatively, as they estimate. Against this background A.P. Moller-Maersk’s container shipping activities expect a modest positive result for the total year 2011. The group’s management expects global demand for seaborne containers to grow by six to eight per cent in 2011.

In the first six months of 2011 the business sector container shipping, which is dominated by Maersk Line, Safmarine and MCC Transport transported 3.8 million FFE (forty foot equivalent). This means a six per cent-increase on the same period in 2010. Average freight rates, including bunker surcharges, were 3 per cent lower than in the same period last year. In total the sector made a profit of USD 400 million, following USD 1.2 billion in the first half of the year 2010.

The A.P. Moller-Maersk group registered an eight per cent-increase in profit to USD 2.7 billion, which results from the good performance of the “Oil & Gas“ and “Terminals” divisions in the first half of the year 2011. Turnover amounted to USD 29.9 billion; eight per cent above last year’s figure.

Quelle: LogEastics
Portal: www.logistik-express.com