Maersk Line retains status as globe’s most reliable container shipping line

Maersk Line made a profit in 2012’s third quarter at $498 million against $289 million loss in the same period last year as a direct result of increasing freight rates and operational cost savings (mainly from vessel network efficiencies).
This result is even more remarkable in the face of challenging economic environment.
 
Compared to the same period last year, rates were higher on all main trades with average rate increase of 5.7 per cent $3,022 per forty-foot equivalent (FFE).

Volumes were unchanged at 2.1 million FFE on a global scale despite the drops on some specific trades including Asia-Europe (8 per cent), Africa (11 per cent) and intra-Europe (5 per cent).
 
“Maersk Line has done what they set out to do when we entered the second quarter and will continue their efforts to secure rates at a level where we can achieve a fair return on our investments,” said the Group’s CEO Nils S. Andersen.
 
For the entire 2012 ,Maersk Line expects a modest positive result based on higher average rates in the second half of the year and expectation that the global demand for seaborne containers will grow modestly despite a decline in inbound European trades.
 
Despite the very tough trading conditions all over the world this year, Maersk Line continues its focus on delivering reliability to its customers.

Container carrier reliability figures for third quarter 2012 published recently by Drewry Maritime Research show that Maersk has maintained its position as the number one carrier for on-time performance.  

Drewry's quarterly Carrier Performance Insight found that 90.5 per cent of Maersk’s sailings arrived on time and distanced out the industry average score by an impressive 17 per cent.