The shipping group has published its preliminary business figures for the first quarter of 2025
Hapag-Lloyd has reported on a good start to 2025 in its first-quarter (Q1) preliminary and unaudited results.
The company saw a 17 per cent increase in EBITDA over the prior-year figure to US$1.1bn, with group EBIT climbing by 24 per cent to US$0.5bn.
The main growth drivers were a transport volume of 3.3mn TEU and an average freight rate of 1,480 US$/TEU, both of which were 9 per cent higher than in the same quarter of 2024 due to strong demand, it explained.
Revenue increased 0.7 per cent, up from US$4.6bn in the opening quarter of 2024 to US$5.3bn.
“We got 2025 off to a good start in the first quarter, but the market environment is currently characterised by many uncertainties,” said Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd. ”We therefore continue to expect lower results for 2025 as a whole.
”We will rigorously implement our Strategy 2030, set a new standard of quality in the market for our customers with our Gemini Cooperation, and further expand Hanseatic Global Terminals.
”At the same time, we will make our fleet even more efficient and continue to decarbonise it,” he outlined. ”In addition, we will keep a close eye on our costs and work intensively on becoming even more digital and efficient.”
For the 2025 financial year, the executive board continues to expects group EBITDA to be in the range of US$2.5bn-4bn and group EBIT to be in the range of US$0-1.5bn.
Hapag-Lloyd said that the forecast remained subject to “considerable uncertainty” due to the volatile development of freight rates and major geopolitical challenges.
”Both the ongoing tense situation in the Red Sea and the global trade conflict could have a significant impact on supply and demand in container shipping and thus also on Hapag-Lloyd’s earnings performance,” the group added.