Hapag-Lloyd swings to Q1 loss as revenue falls, freight rates weaken

Hapag-Lloyd AG reported a first-quarter 2026 liner EBIT loss of $174 million as lower freight rates, softer volume and weather-related Atlantic disruptions pressured results. Liner revenue fell 8% year over year to $4.8 billion, while volume slipped nearly 1% to 3.2 million TEUs. The decline lagged global container volume growth of 4.4%, according to Container Trade Statistics. Average freight rates fell 9.5% to $1,330 per TEU, broadly matching a 9.7% market decline cited by CTS. Chief Executive Rolf Habben Jansen called the quarter “unsatisfactory,” citing weather-related supply chain disruptions and freight-rate pressure. Hapag-Lloyd maintained its 2026 guidance for EBITDA of $1.1 billion to $3.1 billion and EBIT ranging from a $1.5 billion loss to a $500 million profit.