SeatradeMaritime: Cosco Shipping profit up despite freight rate volatility

The Chinese shipping company reported an increase in both revenues and profit in H1 2025, but warns domino effects from economic and trade policies.

Cosco Shipping Holdings reported increased revenues for both its container shipping and terminal businesses in H1 2025.

The company posted an operating revenue of RMB109.1billion ($15.3 billion), representing a 7.78% year-on-year increase. The net profit of the company was approximately RMB20.21 billion, an increase of 4.95%.

The revenue from container shipping business was RMB104.8 billion, a 7.49% year-on-year increase, and the revenue from container terminal business was RMB5.84 billion, grew 14.75%.

 “In the first half of 2025, the demand and freight rates of global container shipping market remained volatile amid multiple factors such as the tariff swings and lingering geopolitical tensions,” said the company, “in the face of highly uncertain external environment, Cosco Shipping Holdings proactively identified and responded to changes. While driving steady enhancement in operating efficiency, it leveraged its two new growth drivers, digital intelligence and green low-carbon development, to expedite the synergetic development of core container shipping business and digital supply chain business.”

After taking delivery of a number of vessels ordered, the company’s own operated fleet currently comprises 557 vessels with a total capacity of over 3.4 million teu. The company possessed new orderbook with a total capacity of nearly 910,000 teu, strengthening its first-tier ranking in the industry in terms of shipping capacity. 

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The company’s main business remained stable during the first six months. The container shipping business handled 13.28 million teu, up by 6.59% year-on-year. Freight volumes on Trans-Pacific routes, Asia-Europe routes, Intra-Asia routes, other international routes (including Africa/Latin America) and China’s coastal and inland routes increased by 4.72%, 3.88%, 5.21%, 11.95% and 9.53%, respectively.

“Looking ahead, the container shipping industry is expected to remain complex and volatile. The domino effects of economic and trade policies coupled with ongoing geopolitical tensions, the reshaping of competitive landscape triggered by technological and green transformation, and the frequent occurrence of various unforeseen events, all may have a profound impact on the overall market development,” stated the company.