Taiwanese liner operator Evergreen Marine Corporation’s management gave a press conference on 25 September, during which they admitted that while Q3 was less promising than expected, they are cautiously optimistic about Q4, as the company is strengthening its presence in emerging markets like South America, the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent.
Evergreen’s general manager, Mr Wu Kuang Hui pointed out that the Ocean Alliance of which it is part of, now has total capacity of 4.95 million TEU, 330 vessels, and 38 routes, making it the strongest among the major alliances.
Mr Wu said: “We’ll continue to flexibly adjust fleet and space allocation based on market demand. In the current phase of the alliance, a total of 330 vessels have been deployed, with a combined capacity of 4.95 million TEU, ensuring service quality and consolidating its competitive advantage in the market.
“In response to the supply and demand challenges brought about by global trade uncertainties and increased new ship deliveries, Evergreen has been actively adjusting its market strategy in recent years, strengthening its presence in emerging markets such as South America, the Middle East, and India, reducing its reliance on a single shipping route, and enhancing its resilience.”
In the first six months of 2025, Evergreen’s net profit was down 20% from the year-ago period, to $ 1.34 billion.
Mr Wu added that many factors continue to disrupt the shipping market. He elaborated: “So far, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have remained unchanged, and the continued detour of large global vessels around the Red Sea is unlikely to be avoided in the short term.
“Port congestion continues to disrupt market supply. Port congestion in the Mediterranean and Europe continues to plague these regions this year. Shipping times from Shanghai and Ningbo to major European ports have lengthened, with waiting times approaching three days for entry from Shanghai. Many European ports are also experiencing congestion, primarily due to the increasing size of vessels and the inability of many terminal facilities to keep pace. This congestion is similar to last year’s. (PL)
