COPENHAGEN – Danish shipping giant Maersk has raised its 2025 earnings outlook, projecting core profits between $8 billion and $9.5 billion, an increase from the previously announced range of $6 billion to $9 billion. The revision comes despite market volatility, with Maersk citing strong demand outside the United States as a key factor, even amid the ongoing tariff disruptions caused by President Donald Trump’s trade policies.
Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc attributed the upward revision to the company’s swift response to market changes and its resilience in global trade, noting, “Even with market volatility and historical uncertainty in global trade, demand remained resilient, and we’ve continued to respond with speed and flexibility.”
However, the shipping company also cautioned that the outlook for global container demand remains uncertain due to the rapidly evolving tariff situation and high policy uncertainty in the U.S. Maersk expects global demand growth to range between two percent and four percent for the remainder of the year, barring any major shocks.
For the second quarter of 2025, Maersk reported a 26.5% drop in net profit, falling to $586 million. However, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) rose to $2.3 billion, up from $2.1 billion a year earlier. The company’s revenue increased by 3% to $13.1 billion.
Maersk’s new East-West network, which aims to set new industry standards for reliability, has been a key factor in boosting volumes and supporting strong performance in the Ocean business, according to Clerc. Despite challenges in global trade, the company remains optimistic about its prospects for the remainder of the year, emphasizing its ability to adapt to changing conditions in the global market.
