Maersk results signal a liner recovery as the tide turns for carriers

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The interim results from Maersk Line this week are a bellwether, indicating a welcome recovery for container lines, but challenging times for shippers.

Maersk Line’s average freight rate for the 5.4m teu carried on its vessels in the second quarter of the year was up 22% on the same period of 2016, but for east-west trades, there was a spike of 36%.

The carrier’s Q2 results confirmed analysts’ expectations that the tide has turned in favour of ocean carriers. Indeed, Soren Skou, Maersk Group CEO, said the carrier ...