Fedespedi report shows global container traffic up 4.4% while shipping profits fall

The eleventh edition of the Fedespedi study on shipping companies shows that world container movements continued to rise, reaching 193 million TEU in 2025 and exceeding 47 million TEU in the first quarter of 2026 – a 4.4 % increase over the same period a year earlier. Despite the volume growth, the analysis of ten major carriers’ 2025 accounts recorded revenue declines ranging from –2 % to –26.6 %, and the early 2026 figures indicate a further squeeze of earnings. The downturn is attributed to excess stowage capacity, falling freight rates, higher fuel costs and ongoing tensions in the Middle East that disrupt routes through the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz.

President of Fedespedi Alessandro Pitto noted, “Volumes keep growing, but the excess capacity and falling freight rates are pushing profit margins back to more normal levels.” On the operational side, vessel on‑time performance stayed above 60 % for most of the period, with February as the only exception. The market remains highly concentrated: the three major alliances – Gemini Cooperation, Ocean Alliance and Premier Alliance – together with MSC control roughly 80 % of total container capacity.

The report highlights that while demand remains robust, shipping companies must adapt logistics chains to a reshaped geographic landscape and tighter margins.