Hapag-Lloyd: 5,848k TEU carried in H1 2018 (+38.5% yoy)

The sharp increase is a result of adding the volumes of the United Arab Shipping Company, whose business was merged with Hapag-Lloyd's in May 2017.

"The first half of 2018 was shaped by clearly increasing fuel costs, higher charter rates and a slower than expected recovery of freight rates," Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO, Hapag-Lloyd, commented.

He also said, "For the remainder of the year, we see a slow but steadily improving market environment, but we recognise that there are still significant geopolitical uncertainties that could influence the market. This only reinforces the necessity to be able to react quickly when needed - and we therefore will accelerate some of our digitalisation initiatives and finalise our new strategy until the end of this year."