Cosco Shipping Holdings sees increase in profit amidst market volatility

Cosco Shipping Holdings, the container and port division of China’s state-owned Cosco, reported a steady increase in profits during the first half of 2025, despite facing challenges in the volatile global container shipping market. The company highlighted its focus on investing in digital technology and environmentally friendly practices to drive growth and navigate uncertain market conditions.

While the United States continues to implement new tariffs and additional charges on Chinese operators, Cosco Shipping Holdings found opportunities for growth in other regions. Their intra-Asia services, as well as routes to Africa, Latin America, and mainland China, saw significant volume increases year-on-year. Liu Xiaoning of HuaYuan Securities suggested that regions with lower tariffs in Southeast Asia and South America could provide cost advantages and create new opportunities for routes between Asia and Latin America.

In addition to its carrier services, Cosco Shipping Holdings operates a global terminal business with 379 berths across 39 ports. The company reported a revenue increase of 14.8% year-on-year, reaching Yuan5.8 billion in the first half of the year. There have been rumors circulating that Cosco Shipping Holdings is considering acquiring the port assets of CK Hutchison to further expand its global presence.

As of June 2025, the company maintains a self-owned container fleet of 557 vessels with a combined capacity exceeding 3.4 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units). Cosco Shipping Holdings also has an orderbook of 51 new vessels, adding over 910,000 TEU to its fleet in the near future. Despite ongoing trade disruptions caused by US tariff adjustments and geopolitical tensions, Cosco Shipping Holdings remains focused on continued growth and expansion in the market.

In the first half of 2025, Cosco Shipping Holdings reported total revenues of Yuan1.1 trillion ($150 billion), marking a 7.8% increase from the previous year. Profits also rose by nearly 4%, reaching Yuan175 billion during the same period. The company’s core business of container shipping generated revenues of Yuan104.8 billion, an increase of 7.5% year-on-year, and handled 13.3 million TEU, representing a 6.6% growth.

Looking specifically at the second quarter, Cosco Shipping Holdings managed 6.8 million TEU and generated revenue of Yuan44.9 billion. Despite the challenges presented by shifting tariffs and geopolitical issues, the company remains optimistic about the future of the container shipping industry and continues to focus on driving growth through strategic investments and operational efficiencies.