Maersk lifts 2026 EBITDA outlook to €8-10 billion

Shares of A.P. Moller-Maersk rose on Monday after the global shipping giant raised its full-year profit outlook, citing stronger-than-expected container demand and rising freight rates. The announcement signals a resilient global trade environment despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.

The Danish company, the world's second-largest container carrier, now expects its 2026 underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) to be between 8 billion and 10 billion euros. This is a substantial increase from its previous forecast range of 4.5 billion to 7 billion euros. Maersk also upgraded its underlying EBIT guidance to a profit of 2 billion to 4 billion euros, improving from a prior range that included a potential loss. The company anticipates a smaller free cash outflow of at least 1.5 billion euros, compared to an earlier projection of at least 3 billion euros.

Management attributed the improved outlook to persistently strong container shipping demand, particularly from East Asian markets, and a recent sustained increase in spot market freight rates. The company now projects global container market volume growth of approximately 4% for 2026, which...