Seatrade-Maritime: Cosco Shipping reports 6% rise in container shipping volume

Amid a tough operating landscape shaped by global trade policy shifts and market volatility, Cosco Shipping Holdings delivered steady operational performance in 2025.

Container shipping volume for the group reached 27.4 million teu in 2025, up 5.76% year-on-year, container shipping revenue was RMB 210.7 billion ($30.57 billion), down 6.74% year-on-year, amidst a generally declining freight rate environment.

Supply chain revenue, excluding ocean freight, grew 9.6% year-on-year to RMB44.9 billion, highlighting the success of the company’s end-to-end service expansion.

Total fleet capacity reached 3.6 million teu, with self-owned and bareboat-chartered vessels accounting for 75% of the total. During 2025, twelve new 16,000 teu vessels were delivered.

Terminal revenue increased by 11.4% year-on-year to RMB 12.04 billion. Total throughput handled by Cosco Shipping Ports reached 153 million teu, a 6.2% increase year-on-year.

Throughout 2025, Cosco Shipping Holdings said it stayed focused on its core strategies and deepened corporate reforms, centering its future growth around three key pillars:

Commitment to green transformation where the company took delivery and operation of three green methanol dual-fuel container vessels in 2025. An additional order of 14 new 18,500 teu methanol dual-fuel vessels brings the total number of green vessels in operation and under construction to 42, with nearly 780,000 teu in capacity.

Global service network expansion:‌ the group actively advanced Ocean Alliance cooperation and implemented its “hub + corridor + network” strategy. It established integrated logistics networks centered around the Port of Chancay in Peru and Yangpu Port in China, and secured key logistics assets in Thailand, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil to build a comprehensive global service system.

Increased digitalisation and the company accelerated its “AI+” strategy and the development of its global digital supply chain platform. 

Looking ahead to 2026, Cosco Shipping Holdings recognizes that the global container shipping industry will continue to face high complexity and uncertainty, fuelled by geopolitical tensions and the reshaping of global trade patterns. Against this backdrop, the group will remain firmly focused on meeting the needs of global customers and steadfastly advance its key development initiatives.‌