Maersk, the world's second-largest container shipping company, on Thursday
raised its 2026 profit forecast for the third time, saying port congestion,
strong consumer demand and increased AI investment are keeping container freight
rates elevated. CEO Vincent Clerc said: "Despite ongoing geopolitical
uncertainty and supply‑chain disruption, global trade has shown notable
resilience." He added demand is coming not only from consumer spending but
increasingly from electrification, large energy investments and rapid expansion
of AI infrastructure, driving substantial industrial cargo flows globally.
Maersk now expects underlying EBITDA of $14.0–14.5 bln for 2026, up from a prior
range of $10.5–12.5 bln.
