TS Lines up good first half

HONG Kong-based, Taiwan-owned TS Lines has managed a first half boost to revenues and profits despite actually carrying fewer containers.

For the six months ended 30 June 2026, the Group’s total revenue reached US$660.4 million, representing an increase of 3.0% compared with the same period in 2025.

Of this, revenue from container shipping services was US$600.6 million, representing an increase of 2.6% compared to the same period in 2025, accounting for 90.9% of total revenue. The Asia-Pacific market remained the Group’s primary source of revenue, accounting for 80.6% of revenue from container shipping services.

During the period, the Group’s total shipping volume was 810,842 TEU, representing a decrease of 0.9% compared to the same period in 2025, but the overall average revenue per TEU increased from US$715 to US$741, representing an increase of approximately 3.6%. Despite a slight decline in shipping volume, the Group improved average unit revenue through route portfolio adjustment, capacity allocation and revenue management, TS Lines said.

As of the end of June 2026, the Group operated a total of 47 shipping services (excluding operations involving TS Lines’ chartered-out vessels), comprising 9 self-operated services, 25 joint-operated services, 11 slot-swap services, and 2 slot-purchasing services.

TS Lines notes its shipping network covers major trading markets in Asia, calling at around 59 ports in total across 21 countries and regions worldwide. As of the end of June 2026, the Group operated a total of 47 vessels with an aggregate capacity of 139,743 TEU.

During the period, TS Kelang, a new vessel of 7,000 TEU class, was delivered on 9 April 2026 [and due in Australia on the CA2 service later this month], further optimizing the fleet configuration of the Group.

The fleet included a total of 35 self-owned vessels providing 88,714 TEU with an average age of approximately 5.2 years; seven chartered-in vessels providing a total capacity of 19,707 TEU with an average age of approximately 4.7 years; and five chartered-out vessels providing a capacity of 31,322 TEU with an average age of approximately 2.2 years.

The overall average age of the fleet was about 4.8 years.

“Overall, the Group maintained a relatively high proportion of self-owned capacity and relied on a relatively young fleet and diversified route cooperation model to support stable service, asset scheduling flexibility and cost control capabilities,” TS Lines said.

The Asia-Pacific region remained the Group’s core operating market. Revenue from related routes during the period was approximately US$484.0 million, representing a decrease of 0.9% compared to the same period in 2025; while shipping volume increased by 2.1% to 752,020 TEU.

Although average revenue per TEU in the region declined from US$663 to US$644, revenue in the Greater China and the Asia-Indian Subcontinent market increased by approximately 13.7% and 6.5%, respectively, partially offsetting the impact of revenue declines on regional routes such as Greater China-North Asia, Greater China-Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia-Southeast Asia, and Asia-Oceania.

In the long-haul and semi long-haul trades, following adjustments to the Transpacific route portfolio, relevant revenue during the period primarily came from the Mexican market. Revenue from the Mexico route increased to US$15.7 million from about US$5.0 million for the same period in 2025. Revenue from the Middle East market increased by approximately 130.1% to US$77.4 million compared to the same period in 2025; the Red Sea route contributed 7,545 TEU and approximately US$13.0 million in revenue during the period.

“The performance of these markets reflected the Group’s continued prudent adjustment of its route portfolio and its ability to capitalize on market opportunities with revenue potential amid external market volatility.

“Looking ahead to the second half of the year, with the delivery of the last new vessel of 7,000 TEU class in this series, the Group will prudently allocate new capacity according to market conditions, and continue to improve efficiency of route operation and flexibility of fleet allocation,” TS Lines said.

“The Group will also pay close attention to changes in the global trade environment, tariff policies, geopolitics and safety of major shipping lanes, adjust its service network in a timely manner and control operational risks, so as to steadily promote its overall operation and sustainable development.”