A.P. Moller-Maersk has raised its full-year profit forecast to between $8 billion and $9.5 billion, up from a previous range of $6 billion to $9 billion, as container shipping demand remained resilient despite geopolitical tensions and Red Sea disruptions. The Danish shipping giant, often seen as a global trade barometer, reported a 7 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase in second-quarter EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) to $2.3 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $1.98 billion. Revenue also rose by 3 per cent to $13.1 billion. Maersk now expects global container volumes to grow between 2 and 4 per cent in 2025, compared to a previous forecast of -1 to 4 per cent. However, the company warned that demand could ease in the second half of the year. Trade flows have remained strong despite earlier declines in US-China trade and ongoing Red Sea shipping disruptions, which Maersk expects to persist through year-end. Rerouting around Africa has increased sailing times and lifted freight rates. Attribution: Reuters Subediting: M. S. Salama
