Red flags as busiest Asia-US trade lane hits OOCL results

Chinese carrier posts lower earnings as freight rates normalize

(Photo: SC Ports)

The parent of Orient Overseas Container Line saw profits fall in the first quarter of 2026 as freight rates normalized amid higher box volumes. 

Parent OOIL said unaudited results for the quarter ended March 31 showed volume growth but further pressure on prices.

Liner revenue at OOCL was $2.14 billion, down 7.6% year‑on‑year, while liftings totaled 1.997 million twenty foot equivalent units, up 1.7% year-on-year. This compared to global volume growth of 7.5% in January-February, according to data from Container Trade Statistics.

Loadable capacity increased by 4.3% from a year ago, ahead of the volume increase and pushing average revenue per TEU down by 9.1% y/y , reflecting softer market pricing.

Among major trade lanes, the trans‑Pacific took the biggest hit as liftings fell 5.9% to 523,385 TEU and revenue declined 16.8% to $744.8 million. Asia‑Europe liftings were higher by 11.8% to 384,893 TEUs, though revenue was down 4.5% to $481.9 million.

For full-year 2025, revenue was $8.78 billion, down 10.6% y/y; liftings were 7.874 million TEUs, up 3.7%.

OOIL also noted delivery of nine new 16,828 TEU vessels in 2025, completing that series.

Read more articles by Stuart Chirls here.

Related coverage:

This U.S. state just banned public funding for port automation

For $3 billion, ocean line expands fleet by 250,000 TEUs

Jaxport adds new direct China connection

Biggest US port getting a big check for fix-ups

Upcoming FreightWaves Events
Fraud & Security

Freight Fraud Symposium

Double brokering. AI deepfakes. Identity theft. Freight fraud is an existential threat to the industry. Get ahead of it.

May 20, 2026
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame • Cleveland, OH
Register Now
AI & Technology

Supply Chain AI Symposium

Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.

July 15, 2026
The Old Post Office • Chicago, IL
Register Now
Rail & Policy

Future of Rail Symposium

Reshoring is rewriting freight demand. Join shippers, rail executives, and government officials to shape the next decade.

July 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Fraud & Security Freight Fraud Symposium May 20 • Cleveland, OH

Double brokering. AI deepfakes. Identity theft. Freight fraud is an existential threat to the industry. Get ahead of it.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame • Cleveland, OH Register Now
AI & Technology Supply Chain AI Symposium Jul 15 • Chicago, IL

Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.

The Old Post Office • Chicago, IL Register Now
Rail & Policy Future of Rail Symposium Jul 28 • Chattanooga, TN

Reshoring is rewriting freight demand. Join shippers, rail executives, and government officials to shape the next decade.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now

Stuart Chirls

Stuart Chirls is a journalist who has covered the full breadth of railroads, intermodal, container shipping, ports, supply chain and logistics for Railway Age, the Journal of Commerce and IANA. He has also staffed at S&P, McGraw-Hill, United Business Media, Advance Media, Tribune Co., The New York Times Co., and worked in supply chain with BASF, the world's largest chemical producer. Reach him at stuartchirls@firecrown.com.