Finance
Hapag-Lloyd Pledges to Address Costs as Nine-Month Profit Drops 50%
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on November 13, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
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Hapag-Lloyd's profits fell by 50% due to market volatility. The company plans strict cost management and benefits from its Gemini cooperation with Maersk.
Hapag-Lloyd Commits to Cost Management as Nine-Month Profits Plummet
By Vera Eckert
FRANKFURT (Reuters) -German container shipper Hapag-Lloyd posted a 50% drop in nine-month net profit to 846 million euros ($989 million) on Thursday and lowered the top end of its full-year earnings forecast, blaming volatile markets and pledging to be strict on costs.
The company revised its full-year earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) projection to between 500 million and 1 billion euros, trimming the upper end from a previous range of 200 million to 1.1 billion euros announced in its August earnings.
Security concerns in the Red Sea that necessitated longer re-routings and frequent shifts in U.S. trade policy have contributed to unstable demand and port congestion in the shipping industry, a bellwether of global economic trends.
"We have to ensure that we will maintain strict cost discipline," Chief Executive Rolf Habben Jansen said on a call with analysts.
Shares in the company, in a small free float of 3.6%, fell 4.6% by 1140 GMT.
Habben Jansen said that the company was seeing the first cost advantages from its new Gemini cooperation with rival Maersk that covers major East-West trades, helping to recoup start-up expenses and due to bring more savings in 2026.
Transported volumes increased 9% to 10.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) in the January to September period, but its transport costs rose by 10.8% to 10.5 billion euros.
Average freight rates, although 5% higher in the third quarter than in the second, fell 4.8% to $1,397 per TEU over the nine months.
"We are looking at a freight rate environment that is under pressure right now, volume growth is slowing slightly down, let's see what the last weeks of the year will bring," Chief Financial Officer Mark Frese said.
Hapag-Lloyd's nine-month EBIT slumped 55% year-on-year to 809 million euros.
($1 = 0.8575 euros)
(Reporting by Vera Eckert; Editing by Louise Heavens and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Key Takeaways
- •Hapag-Lloyd's profit dropped 50% in nine months.
- •The company lowers its full-year earnings forecast.
- •Security and trade issues affect shipping demand.
- •Gemini cooperation with Maersk aims to cut costs.
- •Freight rates under pressure, volume growth slows.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hapag-Lloyd pledges to address costs as nine-month profit drops 50%
1What is net profit?
Net profit is the amount of money a company earns after all expenses, taxes, and costs have been deducted from total revenue. It is an important indicator of a company's profitability.
2What is EBIT?
EBIT stands for Earnings Before Interest and Taxes. It is a measure of a firm's profitability that excludes interest and income tax expenses, providing insight into operational performance.
3What are freight rates?
Freight rates are the charges levied by shipping companies for transporting goods. They can fluctuate based on demand, supply, and market conditions.
4What is port congestion?
Port congestion refers to the overcrowding of ships at a port, which can delay loading and unloading operations. It often results from high demand and limited port capacity.
5What is cost discipline?
Cost discipline is the practice of managing and controlling expenses to maintain profitability. Companies implement cost discipline to ensure they operate efficiently and sustainably.
