The container shipping giant’s earnings fell sharply as lower average revenue per TEU offset modest volume growth in a volatile market.
CMA CGM reported first-quarter EBITDA of $1.5 billion, a 41.3% decline from $2.53 billion a year earlier, as freight rates weakened despite a 1.5% increase in volumes to 5.9 million TEUs. Revenue fell 8.5% to $8 billion, with average revenue per TEU dropping 9.8% to $1,351.
The company’s EBITDA margin contracted by 10.3 percentage points to 18.6%, reflecting industry-wide pressure from capacity imbalances and geopolitical uncertainty. Spot rates showed signs of recovery late in the quarter, but persistent disruptions in global supply chains weighed on performance.
CMA CGM attributed its resilience to network adjustments and diversified logistics corridors, though the broader shipping sector faced headwinds from Middle East tensions and uneven demand.