Hapag-Lloyd reported third quarter group profit of $999 million, against $172 million a year earlier, with EBITDA nearly doubling to $1.73 billion from $866 million and revenue rising to $6.88 billion from $5.46 billion. The increase came from rates, not cargo: the average freight rate rose to $1,808 per twenty-foot equivalent unit from $1,413 a year earlier, while volumes were broadly unchanged at 3.38 million units, against 3.40 million a year earlier.
The board raised the full year outlook on November 11. The company now expects 2026 EBITDA of $4.6 billion to $5.0 billion, up from $3.9 billion to $4.4 billion, and EBIT of $2.0 billion to $2.4 billion, up from $1.25 billion to $1.75 billion, citing continued strength in spot freight rates. Hapag-Lloyd also said it expects regulatory approvals for its purchase of Zim in the first quarter of 2027, and cautioned that the upgraded outlook remains subject to considerable uncertainty from volatile freight rates and geopolitical conditions.