Maersk to Cut 15% of Corporate Staff in 2026 as Cost Pressures Mount
16.02.2026
Danish shipping giant Maersk has announced plans to reduce its corporate workforce by approximately 1,000 positions, equivalent to around 15% of office-based staff. The move is expected to generate annual savings of about $180 million.
The layoffs will affect the company’s headquarters as well as regional and national offices and form part of a broader effort to streamline organizational structures and reinforce financial discipline. Maersk confirmed that all required notification and consultation procedures have been initiated.
In 2025, Maersk’s revenue declined by $1.5 billion to $54.0 billion, primarily due to pressure on ocean freight rates. The impact was partially offset by stronger performance in terminals and logistics services. EBITDA reached $9.5 billion, EBIT stood at $3.5 billion, and net profit totaled $2.9 billion, reflecting the sharp downturn in ocean segment profitability.
Looking ahead to 2026, Maersk projects underlying EBITDA in the range of $4.5–7.0 billion, with global container market growth expected at 2–4%. The company noted that geopolitical tensions, disruptions in the Red Sea, and new trade tariffs continue to create a complex and cost-intensive operating environment, requiring ongoing adjustments to its business model.
Founded in 1904, Maersk is one of the world’s largest container shipping and integrated logistics companies. It is publicly listed, with a controlling stake held by A.P. Moller Holding on behalf of the Møller family, while the remaining shares are publicly traded.
Evergreen Marine Orders 23 New Container Ships, Pushing Newbuild Commitments Above $11bn
04.02.2026
Taiwanese liner operator Evergreen Marine has continued its large-scale fleet expansion, placing orders for 23 container vessels with a total value of up to $1.47 billion. The shipbuilding contracts were signed through its subsidiary Evergreen Marine Asia, further adding to one of the largest newbuild portfolios in the container shipping industry.
The order includes 16 feeder vessels of 3,100 TEU, to be built at CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard, as well as 7 post-panamax container ships of 5,900 TEU, contracted with Yangzijiang Shipbuilding.
The newbuild program aligns with Evergreen’s strategy to strengthen its regional and interregional service network while modernizing the fleet with vessels offering greater operational flexibility.
With these latest contracts, Evergreen’s total newbuilding commitments now exceed $11 billion, underlining the company’s confidence in the long-term outlook for container shipping and its effort to secure shipyard slots amid limited global shipbuilding capacity.
Evergreen Marine, founded in 1968, is one of the world’s largest container carriers, operating a global network of liner services. The company is publicly listed and controlled by the Chang family.
Hong Kong Launches a Digital Port Community System with Real-Time Cargo Tracking
22.01.2026
Authorities in Hong Kong have launched a Port Community System (PCS) — a unified digital platform for the port and logistics ecosystem that enables 24/7 real-time cargo monitoring. According to GS1 Hong Kong, more than 2,300 companies have already joined the system, highlighting rapid industry adoption.
The PCS is built on international GS1 standards, including GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), improving the accuracy of declarations and end-to-end supply chain traceability. The platform is also designed to be interoperable with China’s Single Window system, where GTIN is already mandatory for import clearance, helping to reduce friction in cross-border cargo flows.
Beyond operations, the system is expected to support trade finance. PCS data will be used in the CargoX project, developed with the participation of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, to simplify banks’ risk assessments and improve access to financing for SMEs.
The initiative strengthens Hong Kong’s position as a digital hub for port logistics and accelerates the shift toward data-driven port and supply chain management.
Suez Canal Traffic Still 60% Below Pre-Crisis Levels After 100 Days
12.01.2026
More than three months after the last reported attack in the Red Sea, transit through the Suez Canal remains severely constrained, according to BIMCO.
In the first week of 2026, vessel passages were still around 60% lower than in the same period of 2023, before large-scale diversions via the Cape of Good Hope began.
Despite Houthi announcements about halting attacks, the market remains cautious. Since January 2024, quarterly deadweight volumes transiting the canal have consistently stayed 51–64% below 2023 levels, with little change throughout 2025.
Container shipping has been hit the hardest:
- Q4 2025 container ship transits were 86% below pre-crisis levels
- Bulk carriers: –55%
- Crude oil tankers: –32%
- Product tankers: –19%
Product tankers stand out as a partial exception, as higher freight premiums have encouraged some return to the route. Container lines, however, largely continue to rely on alternative routings, though a few operators have signaled a gradual return, conditional on sustained security improvements.
Another potential catalyst is the decline in Red Sea war risk insurance premiums, now down to around 0.2% of hull value, the lowest level since late 2023.
According to BIMCO, a full normalization of Suez transit would reduce operating costs for shipowners — but also lower demand for tonnage. If the route fully reopens, demand for container ships could fall by around 10%, while other segments may see a 2–3% decline, making the pace of recovery a key factor for overall market balance.
BIMCO, founded in 1905, is the world’s largest international shipping association, representing shipowners, operators, and charterers across the global maritime industry.
China Revives Bankrupt Shipyard Under New Ownership
05.01.2026
China Revives Bankrupt Shipyard Under New Ownership
China’s shipbuilding sector continues to expand capacity by restarting assets shut down after the previous downturn, rather than building new facilities from scratch.
A recent example is Nanjing Dongze Shipyard on the Yangtze River, which has resumed operations following a court-ordered sale and a change of ownership. The yard, previously independent and focused on small cargo vessels, ceased operations in 2017 and accumulated around $50 million in debt by 2025, entering bankruptcy reorganization.
The asset was acquired by a subsidiary of China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry Group, which assumed $33 million in liabilities. In return, the buyer gained ready-made infrastructure:
- two slipways up to 50,000 dwt
- production facilities
- valuable riverfront access on the Yangtze
These assets complement the capacity of the nearby Jinling Shipyard.
Under its new brand, the shipyard has already launched its first newbuild — the chemical tanker SC Emerald.
The deal highlights China’s current industry logic: rapid and cost-effective restoration of existing capacity instead of greenfield construction. With China accounting for over 50% of global shipbuilding and maintaining a solid orderbook, this approach delivers a strong competitive edge.
China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry Group is part of the state-owned China Merchants Group and continues to strengthen China’s global shipbuilding position through consolidation and asset reactivation.