CMA CGM chairman and CEO Rudolphe Saadé is confident the group’s strategy remains on course, despite an environment marked by significant geopolitical uncertainty.
Addressing the group’s 2025 financial results, released on Friday [6March] Mr Saadé said CMA CGM delivered solid results in 2025, driven by the strong performance of its shipping lines.
“The continued growth of our terminals and air freight operations, combined with our logistics activities, confirms the relevance of our model. It strengthens our agility and allows us to adjust our operations to the cycles of our industry,” Mr Saadé said.
“In 2026, in a context of heightened tensions, particularly in the Middle East, our priority is clear: protecting our teams and adapting our operations to ensure our customers continue to receive a reliable and high-quality service. At the same time, we are pursuing our development, continuing to invest in our industrial assets and to strengthen our global network.”
For the 2025 financial year, revenue amounted to US$54.4 billion, down 2.0% compared to 2024, primarily due to lower revenue from container shipping activities. EBITDA reached $10.6 billion, representing an EBITDA margin of 19.4%, down 4.8 percentage points compared to 2024.
For the year 2025, transported volumes reached 24.2 million TEU, up 2.8% compared with 2024, driven by sustained demand. Transported volumes increased by 5.3% in the fourth quarter, outperforming the market.
Annual revenue for container shipping declined 6.1% versus 2024, reaching USD 34.3 billion.
EBITDA stood at USD 7.9 billion, compared with USD 11.2 billion in 2024. The EBITDA margin fell 7.8 points to 23.0%, reflecting an average revenue per TEU of USD 1,414 over the year, down 8.7%.
Logistics revenue amounted to $18.3 billion in 2025 and remained relatively stable compared to 2024.
EBITDA reached $1.7 billion, down 2.2% compared to 2024. The EBITDA margin stood at 9.4%, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points, reflecting pressure on freight management activities due to a volatile market environment as well as challenges affecting the automotive sector. Contract logistics activities, meanwhile, delivered strong performance over the year, with both revenue and profitability increasing, the Group said.
In 2025, CMA CGM continued to strengthen its industrial assets and accelerate its energy transition pathway, supported by a new-generation fleet. The Group took delivery of 27 new vessels powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and methanol.
In pursuit of Net Zero Carbon by 2050, nearly USD 30 billion has already been invested in ordering LNG- and methanol-powered ships, CMA CGM said. By 2030, more than 200 vessels in the fleet will be capable of running on low-carbon energies such as biomethane, biomethanol or synthetic fuels.
“While the Group is investing heavily in this new generation of vessels, their full potential will be realised as the availability and competitiveness of low-carbon fuels increase globally,” CMA CGM said.
Through the She Sails program, CMA CGM doubled the number of women seafarers in its workforce in 2025, rising from 200 to more than 400. The Group is further strengthening its ambitions and now aims to have 1,000 women on board by the end of 2030.
Operational control of container terminals is a strategic priority for shipping lines,” the Group stated. “It enables better end-to-end supply chain management and improves operational efficiency and service quality for customers.
“In 2025, CMA CGM invested $2.5 billion to continue expanding its portfolio of 66 terminals across 40 countries. The Group is thus strengthening its presence in key growth geographies, with the aim of enhancing service reliability and supporting the evolution of global trade routes.”
Looking to 2026, container shipping is expected to record moderate growth worldwide, following a dynamic year in 2025. However, developments in the Middle East, particularly in the Red Sea, will be key factors influencing market balance and freight rate trends.
“In this uncertain environment, the Group will be able to rely on the diversification of its activities, the flexibility of its network, and its financial strength. The integration of Freightliner and Fagioli, the strengthening of its terminal positions through the creation of the United Ports joint venture, as well as the development of its activities in France—particularly in Lyon—and internationally, notably in India, reflect the consistent implementation of its strategy and the resilience of its business model, CMA CGM said.
Reviewing CMA CGM’s 4Q25 container performance, Vespucci Maritime’s Lars Jensen noted volume was up 5.3%, compared to global volume up 4.7%; Maersk +8%, Hapag-Lloyd +6.5%, ONE unchanged. Revenue per TEU was down -16.3%, but the CTS average global rate index was -20%; Maersk -23%, ONE -5.9%, Hapag-Lloyd -16.2% EBITDA was US$1.5 billion for a margin of 18.2%, compared to Maersk 14%, Hapag-Lloyd 16%, and ONE 13.2%. For logistics, EBITDA margin came in at 9.1% versus Maersk at 10.5%, according to Mr Jensen’s analysis.