CEO Rolf Habben Jansen acknowledged the good start but highlighted ongoing market uncertainties. “We got 2025 off to a good start in the first quarter, but the market environment is currently characterized by many uncertainties,” he said. He added that the company expects overall results for 2025 to be lower than previous forecasts, citing volatile freight rates and geopolitical challenges.

Despite these headwinds, Habben Jansen reaffirmed Hapag-Lloyd’s strategic priorities. The company will continue to execute its Strategy 2030, aiming to set new industry standards through its Gemini Cooperation and to expand its Hanseatic Global Terminals network. Efforts will also focus on making the fleet more efficient, advancing decarbonization initiatives, and maintaining cost discipline. Digital transformation and operational efficiency remain key focus areas for the company.

For the full year, the Executive Board maintains its forecast of Group EBITDA between USD 2.5 billion and USD 4.0 billion and Group EBIT between USD 0.0 billion and USD 1.5 billion. However, these projections are subject to significant uncertainty due to the unpredictable development of freight rates and ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the tense situation in the Red Sea and global trade conflicts, which could substantially impact supply, demand, and earnings.

At today’s Annual General Meeting, CEO Rolf Habben Jansen will provide shareholders with a detailed review of the 2024 financial year and share insights into the outlook for 2025. The full speech will be published afterward.