The reduction in turnover recorded in the first quarter year, despite strong growth in the quarter subsequently put a brake on the increase in revenues recorded by Orient Overseas (International) Ltd. (OOIL) of Hong Kong in the first six months of 2026 which amounted to 5.17 billion US dollars, up +6.1% on the first half of 2025, of which 4.10 billion totaled in the Asian market (+7.0%), 546.0 million in the European market (-4.0%), 359.8 million in the Americas (+10.8%) and $167.9 million in markets Australia and Africa (+9.4%). Revenue growth half-yearly results was overtaken by the increase in costs amounted to €4.33 billion (+10.9%). Margin values operating income and operating profit declined respectively by -14.4% and -26.4%, falling to 1.25 billion and 720.3 million. Net profit also fell, which was equal to 729.3 million dollars (-23.6%).

Announcing today the half-year results, the OOIL, which is part of the of the Chinese state-owned group COSCO Shipping Holdings Co. and operates containerized maritime transport services under the Orient brand Overseas Container Line (OOCL), highlighted that the period was a maritime transport market of containers that have not normalized as many have expected at the end of 2025. The escalation of the conflict in the Middle East continued to prevent the return of ships to transit in the Suez Canal, with Asia-Europe routes forced to circumnavigate the Cape of Good Hope. To this were added strong oil price fluctuations, higher inflation expectations high and higher costs for carbon emissions in the EU. On the US front, the return of policy uncertainty tariffs, with the US government launching a wide range of investigation under Section 301, after duties imposed through the International Emergency Economic Power Act (IEEPA) had been declared invalid by the Supreme Court, has fueled fears of new tariff increases. This scenario, combined with the need for to replenish stocks in the United States, OOIL noted led to faster demand growth than and an anticipation of the peak season. Growth of the demand, resulting in full capacity utilisation of ships used on the main routes, which - specified the Chinese company - it is expected to continue in these subsequent periods. OOIL warned that, however, as the end of the peak season and with the delivery of new ships on the market, freight rates could come under pressure again.