According to Alphaliner, as of last month, six publicly listed shipping companies have officially been recognized as large-cap firms with market values exceeding USD 10 billion. Wan Hai Lines is the latest carrier to join this high-value group.

“The top three container carriers by market capitalization—COSCO, Maersk, and Hapag-Lloyd—now have valuations comparable to well-known consumer brands such as Delta Airlines, Kraft Heinz, and Kellogg,” Alphaliner stated in its latest weekly report.

Alphaliner data shows that, excluding privately held Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the combined market value of the 11 largest listed shipping companies now slightly exceeds USD 165 billion—up from around USD 60 billion at the beginning of the century.

Veteran shipping analyst and Blue Alpha Capital head John McCown reported that the container industry achieved a net profit of USD 9.9 billion in Q1 2025. HSBC predicts the sector will remain profitable at least through Q2 and Q3.

In a recent report, McCown emphasized the industry's significantly improved profitability compared to the pre-pandemic era. Between 2016 and 2019, the industry posted a combined loss of USD 8.5 billion on revenues of USD 681.2 billion, with a negative profit margin of 1.3%.

In contrast, from 2020 to 2024, the industry saw a remarkable turnaround, with net profit margins of 8.1%, 36.8%, 42.7%, 9.6%, and 18.3%, respectively.

Meanwhile, Drewry’s container market forecasters expect supply-demand balance to weaken again in the second half of the year, potentially driving spot rates downward. The timing and extent of rate changes will depend on the legal outcomes of Trump-era tariff challenges and capacity shifts linked to potential U.S. sanctions on Chinese vessels—both of which remain uncertain.

Liner company executives will be closely watching developments in London, where a framework agreement was recently reached between China and the United States. However, it still requires approval from the leaders of both nations.