A.P. Moller-Maersk raised its full-year guidance after reporting stronger-than-expected second-quarter results, underscoring the resilience of global container trade despite geopolitical frictions and the prolonged closure of key Red Sea routes. Revenue for the three months to June rose 3% year on year to $13.13 billion, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation increased 7% to $2.3 billion, both topping analyst estimates. The average loaded freight rate reached $2,259 per forty-foot equivalent unit. On the back of the performance, the Copenhagen-based carrier lifted its 2025 underlying EBITDA forecast to a range of $8 billion to $9.5 billion, up from $6 billion to $9 billion. It also revised its projection for global container-volume growth to between 2% and 4%, compared with a previous estimate that allowed for a contraction. Maersk attributed the upgrade to “resilient” demand in Europe, Asia and other regions that more than offset a contraction in U.S. imports. Chief Executive Officer Vincent Clerc said container demand growth has begun to decouple from global GDP, with Chinese exporters gaining market share and fuelling volumes. While the company expects disruptions in the Red Sea to persist for the rest of the year, Clerc added that rising spot freight rates and the planned Gemini Alliance cost cuts keep the group on track to meet its higher earnings targets. Maersk reiterated that it is not ordering the industry’s largest new vessels until it has greater visibility on long-term capacity needs.