Hapag-Lloyd maintains cautious outlook and expects slower sailing to ease capacity oversupply risks
- Hapag-Lloyd reported a ‘difficult’ first quarter of 2026, posting a net loss of $256m compared with a $469m profit a year earlier
- Weak cargo volumes, falling freight rates and severe weather disruptions especially affected transatlantic operations
- Despite the poor start to the year, the company said second-quarter trading had improved, supported by stronger cargo volumes and healthier forward-booking trends
Hapag-Lloyd said Middle East disruption remains a challenge, with four vessels still stranded in the region, while the company has reopened bookings to the upper Middle East Gulf using a landbridge via Oman and western Saudi Arabia
