Maersk Q4 profit meets forecasts but outlook darkens on rate slide

Maersk, which is often seen as a bellwether for global trade, projected global container-volume growth of two per cent to four per cent for 2026, a slowdown from five per cent in 2025, citing recession risks in the global economy.

The company expects underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of between $4.5 billion and $7 billion this year, a drop from $9.53 billion recorded in 2025.

Analysts polled by the company expect $6.49 billion. Underlying EBITDA for the fourth quarter came in at $1.84 billion, just short of the $1.88 billion forecast by analysts.

Maersk on Tuesday said it would resume some transit routes through the Red Sea and Suez Canal this month under its shared services network with Germany's Hapag-Lloyd.

(Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen, editing by Terje Solsvik and Thomas Derpinghaus)