Hapag-Lloyd has released its new annual report. According to the report, the company saw a slight increase in operational results in 2024. The group’s EBITDA rose to $5 billion (€4.6 billion), and EBIT showed a slight improvement over the previous year, reaching $2.8 billion (€2.6 billion). However, the group’s profit was $2.6 billion (€2.4 billion), lower than last year’s profit, mainly due to reduced interest income and higher tax expenses.

Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen stated, “In a challenging market environment, we have achieved solid results and further improved customer satisfaction. We have further strengthened and expanded our terminal business under the Hansa Global Terminal brand. We are working hard to further improve processes, which will bear fruit in the coming years, and we have increased investments in digitalization and employee training. Finally, we launched the largest newbuild program in the company’s history, which will further modernize and decarbonize our fleet.”

In the liner shipping sector, overall transport volume grew by 4.7% in 2024, reaching 12.5 million TEUs (compared to 11.9 million TEUs in 2023), while average freight rates remained stable at $1,492/TEU (compared to $1,500/TEU in 2023). As a result, revenue increased to $20.3 billion (€18.8 billion). Despite higher transport costs due to rerouted ships around the Cape of Good Hope, EBITDA increased to $4.9 billion (€4.5 billion), and EBIT remained at last year’s level of $2.7 billion (€2.5 billion).

The terminal and infrastructure division showed an improvement in EBITDA for the 2024 fiscal year, reaching $151 million (€139 million), particularly due to several acquisitions in the previous fiscal year. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) grew to $72 million (€66 million).

Based on these results, Hapag-Lloyd’s Executive Board and Supervisory Board will propose a dividend of €8.20 per share at the Annual General Meeting for the 2024 fiscal year, which amounts to a total dividend of €1.4 billion, making Hapag-Lloyd’s stock one of the most attractive dividend stocks in Germany.

For the 2025 fiscal year, the Executive Board expects the group’s EBITDA to be between $2.5 billion and $4 billion (€2.4 billion to €3.9 billion), and group EBIT to range between $0 billion and $1.5 billion (€0 billion to €1.5 billion). Due to the high volatility in freight rates and significant geopolitical challenges, this outlook remains subject to considerable uncertainty.

“2025 will begin on a positive note for the Twin Star Alliance, but the economic and geopolitical environment remains fragile. Against this backdrop, we expect earnings in 2025 to be lower than in 2024. In the first half of this year, we will implement the Gemini network and expect to set new standards in scheduling reliability. We will continue to develop Hansa International Terminals and look forward to further expanding our inland business. At the same time, we will closely monitor our unit costs and focus on improving efficiency and climate-friendly practices,” Rolf Habben Jansen said.