Big Blue is forecasting a big finish in 2026. And it has the unsettled Middle East in part to thank.<\/p>\n
Maersk revised its financial guidance sharply upwards as peak season\u00a0 demand swells out of Asia and spot market<\/a> rates continue to climb.<\/p>\n \u201cContinued strong demand in the container market, particularly in the Far East, and a recent sustained increase in spot market rates means that A.P. Moller\u2013Maersk (OTC: AMKBY<\/a>) upgrades its guidance for full year 2026,\u201d the Copenhagen-based company said Monday.<\/p>\n The world\u2019s second-largest container carrier now expects underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) in a range of $8-$10 billion. That\u2019s up from previous estimates of $4.5-$7 billion.<\/p>\n Maersk forecast underlying earnings before interest and taxes of $2-$4 billion, up from a loss of $1.5-$1 billion.<\/p>\n The company narrowed expectations of negative free cash flow to $1.5 billion from $3 billion.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is based on a volume growth outlook for the global container market of about 4% (previously 2%-4%) for full-year 2026,\u201d Maersk stated.<\/p>\n Ocean carriers got an unexpected boost from the effects of the U.S. war with Iran in the Persian Gulf that began Feb. 28. The closing of the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian attacks on refining choked global supplies and sent the price of crude oil and fuel soaring. The conflict trapped thousands of ships in the Gulf region, helped push up rates, and led carriers to implement an array of emergency surcharges.<\/p>\n Rates were also buoyed by frontloading by shippers anxious to avoid tariff chaos and expected price hikes by Asia manufacturers.<\/p>\n Maersk in the weeks after the start of the war petitioned the Federal Maritime Commission to waive its 30-day waiting period for the implementation of emergency fuel surcharges. But the U.S.-based regulator three times rejected Maersk\u2019s requests.<\/p>\n The company will release second quarter earnings on August 13.<\/p>\n Read more articles by Stuart Chirls\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\n Read more:<\/p>\n Containers lost at sea nearly tripled in 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Top 5 container line buying into major Europe terminal<\/a><\/p>\n NEW: Maersk shifts SoCal import containers to UP from BNSF<\/a><\/p>\n California: First ILWU strike against sugar giant in decades<\/a><\/p>\n Oregon port OKs federal rail grant agreement for multimodal projec<\/a><\/p>\n Upcoming FreightWaves Events<\/p>\n Compliance<\/p>\n Brokerage Compliance Symposium<\/p>\n The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face – fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps – navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.<\/p>\n October 26, 2026<\/p>\n The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo \u2022 Chattanooga, TN<\/p>\n Register Now<\/a><\/p>\n Awards<\/p>\n F3 Awards Dinner<\/p>\n The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music – 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.<\/p>\n October 26, 2026<\/p>\n The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo \u2022 Chattanooga, TN<\/p>\n Register Now<\/a><\/p>\n FreightTech<\/p>\n F3: Future of Freight Festival<\/p>\n Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga – plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.<\/p>\n October 27, 2026 \u2013 October 28, 2026<\/p>\n The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo \u2022 Chattanooga, TN<\/p>\n Register Now<\/a><\/p>\n \n Compliance The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face – fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps – navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.<\/p>\n The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo \u2022 Chattanooga, TN \n Awards The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music – 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.<\/p>\n The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo \u2022 Chattanooga, TN \n FreightTech Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga – plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.<\/p>\n
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