Sea-Intelligence: Carrier financials recover in Q2 2026

The container shipping industry showed strong signs of financial recovery during the second quarter of 2026, according to Sea-Intelligence.

Reporting container carriers recorded significant annual increases in combined revenue, operating profit and transported volumes.

Carrier revenue reaches US$43.4 billion

The reporting shipping lines generated combined revenue of US$43.4 billion during the second quarter.

This represented an increase of 15.9% compared with the same period in 2025.

Eight carriers that published earnings before interest and taxes reported combined EBIT of US$2.69 billion.

Their combined operating profit increased by 58.2% from US$1.70 billion in the second quarter of 2025.

“The 2026-Q2 financial data underscores a significant positive turnaround in industry profitability,” said Alan Murphy, CEO of Sea-Intelligence.

Global container volumes increase

All six carriers that had reported their global volume figures recorded year-on-year growth during the quarter.

Combined transported volumes across the same group of carriers increased by 4.7%.

OOCL achieved the highest growth, with its global volumes increasing by 8.8%.

CMA CGM followed with growth of 6%, while ONE recorded the lowest increase at 2.9%.

None of the reporting carriers achieved double-digit global volume growth.

Sea-Intelligence noted that second-quarter volume figures for COSCO Shipping Lines, HMM and Yang Ming were not yet available.

Transpacific volumes rise by 8.9%

Growth on the major east-west trade lanes supported the increase in global container volumes.

Transpacific volumes increased by 8.9% compared with the second quarter of 2025.

Asia-Europe volumes rose by 4.9% over the same period.

“These volume figures suggest that the market has regained a solid footing following last year’s disruptions,” said Murphy.

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