Maersk recorded a year-on-year growth of 27% in its revenue during the third quarter of 2026 (3Q26) , reaching $18.1 billion , driven by the performance of its three business areas, in a context of higher shipping rates and port congestion.
According to the company, its operating profit (EBIT) increased from $1.3 billion to $3.3 billion, while EBITDA rose from $2.7 billion to $4.7 billion, compared to the same period of the previous year .
“We had a solid quarter across all our business areas. Despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and disruptions, global trade has remained remarkably resilient. Demand is being driven not only by consumption, but increasingly by significant investments in electrification, energy, and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure,” said Vincent Clerc, CEO of Maersk.
Congestion and maritime tariffs
During the quarter under review, global container demand grew between 2% and 4% year-on-year. However, an intense typhoon season in Asia caused port congestion that absorbed some vessel capacity, pushing the global average waiting time in ports to a peak of 16.6 hours, the highest level since January 2023 .
Given the above conditions, average spot rates , as measured by the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) , increased 46% compared to the second quarter . Meanwhile, Maersk’s Ocean Freight division raised its EBIT from $567 million to $2.6 billion, with a vessel utilization rate of 96%.
The shipping company noted that the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the congestion of its network increased fuel, operating and container handling costs, as well as affecting the reliability of schedules.
Logistics and terminals maintain growth
In Logistics and Services , revenue increased 13% during the period, supported by ground transportation, growth in air freight volumes, and project logistics. Its EBIT margin rose from 5.5% to 5.8%.
In the case of Terminals , record revenues were achieved and a growth of 2.6% in the volumes moved, with increases of 14% in Africa and 6.7% in Europe.
Improved outlook for year-end
Thanks to these results, Maersk raised its underlying EBITDA forecast for 2026 to a range of US$14 billion to US$14.5 billion, up from its previous estimate of US$10.5 billion to US$12.5 billion. Similarly, it adjusted its underlying EBIT forecast to a range of US$8 billion to US$8.5 billion, based on an approximate 4% growth in the global container market volume during 2026.
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