COSCO-owned, Hong Kong-based OOCL, usually the first of the major container lines to report quarterly results, may again prove to be an industry bellwether with revenue down but capacity up for Q1 2026.
For the first quarter ended 31st March 2026, liner revenue decreased by 7.6% to USD 2,138.4 million, as compared to the same period in 2025, the line’s immediate parent Orient Overseas International Holdings reported late last week.
Total liftings increased by 1.7% and the loadable capacity increased by 4.3%. The overall load factor was 2.1% lower than the same period in 2025. Overall average liner revenue per TEU decreased by 9.1% compared to the first quarter of last year.
Total liftings for all services were 1,996,652 TEU for Q1 2026, compared to 1,693,492 TEU Q1 2025. Total revenue was USD 2,138,380 versus 2,313,707.
Liftings grew substantially in the Asia-Europe trade but fell in the trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic, while revenues dived in the trans-Pacific and more moderately in Asia-Europe and trans-Atlantic tradelanes.
In the Intra-Asia/Australasia sector liftings grew 2.9% from 927,203 TEU in Q1 20245 to 954,464 TEU this year. Revenue also grew, albeit by only 0.7%.
The board issued no commentary on the figures.