Maersk’s first quarter profit more than doubled from $204m in the same period in 2013, despite freight rates being lower than a year earlier.
“The improvement was driven by higher volumes and lower unit costs through the continuous focus on operational cost savings mainly from vessel network efficiencies and improved vessel utilisation, supported by lower bunker price,” Maersk said.
The Danish company said that average freight rates fell by 5.1% in the quarter to $2,628 per feu compared to $2,770 per feu in the same period a year earlier. However, the container line was able to improve its profitability by reducing its unit cost to $2,628 per feu, down from $2,871 per a year earlier. Volumes increased by 7.3% in the quarter to 2.2m feu.
Maersk has also continued to reduce its fuel consumption, which was 9.5% lower per unit than in the first quarter of 2013.
“Total bunker cost of $1.2bn was reduced by 10% compared to Q1 2013 due to 2.9% lower total bunker consumption and further driven by a 7.2% decrease in the average bunker price,” the company said.
Maersk said growth in the container market slowed to 3% in the first quarter, slightly lower than it was in 2013 as a whole. Looking ahead this figure is expected to rise and it said: “The growth in the rest of the year is expected to be around 4-5% on the back of gradually improving global macroeconomics.”
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited.
Add Seatrade Maritime News to your Google News feed.  |
