The French shipping company CMA CGM recorded significant growth in the first quarter of 2025.
The group’s turnover amounted to $13.3 billion – with shipping accounting for the largest share.
EBITDA for the entire group, which is also active in domestic transportation and air freight, among other things, was $3.1 billion, up 29.1% on the previous year. The margin rose by 3.1 points to 23.3%.
With these results, CMA CGM is defying the “numerous operational challenges of 2024”, it says. Due to the situation in the Red Sea, caused by ongoing attacks by the Houthi militia, the year 2025 has begun with increasing market uncertainties. The tensions between the USA and China have further fueled this. Nevertheless, demand for transport and logistics services has not waned, enabling the Group to achieve a solid result in the first quarter.
Shipping remains CMA CGM’s largest mainstay
This is particularly noticeable in the Group’s shipping segment. In the first quarter, CMA CGM ships transported a total of 5.8 million TEU – an increase of 4.2% compared to the previous year. Consolidated revenue amounted to $8.8 billion, 11.5% above the same period in 2024. EBITDA amounted to $2.5 billion, an increase of 30%. The EBITDA margin was 28.9%, an increase of 4.1 percentage points. Average revenue per TEU amounted to $1,498, an increase of 7.1% compared to the previous year.
“In an unstable geopolitical environment characterized by unprecedented trade tensions, the Group delivered a solid performance in the first quarter, driven by the strength of our shipping activities and our long-term investments, particularly in terminals,” said Board Member and CEO Rodolphe Saadé. “Even if the outlook for the rest of the year remains uncertain, our direction is clear: controlling costs, strengthening our positions in growth markets and increasing our commercial agility, in particular by using artificial intelligence to meet our customers’ expectations.”
Investing in new markets
In recent months, CMA CGM has strengthened existing partnerships and entered new markets. For example, the “CMA CGM Vitoria”, the shipping company’s first ship (and the first foreign ship) under the Indian flag, has been registered in India. In future, the company intends to play a leading role in the “IMEC” project, which is to connect India, the Middle East and Europe. In addition, CMA CGM is planning investments worth billions in the USA and has signed terminal contracts in the Middle East and Brazil.
With regard to the development of customs policy and thus also the outlook for the current year, the Group was cautious. If the trade conflict intensifies further, this is likely to affect international trade volumes in the long term. “The visibility of trends in global trade remains limited and depends on possible announcements on customs policy and new geopolitical developments,” it said. “Effective capacity management, cost control, routine diversification and transformation through investment in optimization, monitoring and forecasting technologies are essential to maintaining competitiveness.”
