Hapag-Lloyd reported a 5% increase in transport volumes, reaching 6.1 million TEU in the first half of 2024, compared to the same period in the previous year. Despite the end of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly changing market conditions, the company’s performance exceeded initial expectations due to higher demand and rising spot rates in Q2 2024. However, these results were still below the previous year’s level.

In the Liner Shipping segment, transport volumes increased by 5% to 6.1 million TEU, up from 5.8 million TEU in H1 2023. However, segment revenues fell by 14% to USD 9.3 billion (EUR 8.6 billion) due to a lower average freight rate of 1,391 USD/TEU, compared to 1,761 USD/TEU in the same period last year. Consequently, the EBITDA decreased to USD 1.9 billion (EUR 1.8 billion), and the EBIT fell to USD 0.8 billion (EUR 0.8 billion). The Terminal & Infrastructure segment saw a significant increase in sales and earnings in H1 2024, thanks to the equity stakes acquired in the previous year. The EBITDA rose to USD 71 million (EUR 66 million), and the EBIT increased to USD 33 million (EUR 31 million). However, as this segment was only established in the second half of 2023, the H1 2024 results are only partially comparable to the prior-year figures.

On July 9, 2024, the Executive Board raised its forecast for the current financial year. The Group EBITDA is now expected to be USD 3.5 to 4.6 billion (EUR 3.2 to 4.2 billion), and the Group EBIT in the range of USD 1.3 to 2.4 billion (EUR 1.2 to 2.2 billion). However, due to the highly volatile development of freight rates and significant geopolitical challenges, this forecast remains subject to a high degree of uncertainty.