It’s still early in the reporting cycle, but preliminary announcements by ocean carriers point to history-making profits in Q4 2021, trouncing already stratospheric expectations.
Supply chain congestion — the bane of cargo shippers — has proven to be an unprecedented money-making machine for carriers. And with congestion expected to persist, liner companies could follow up blockbuster fourth-quarter results with even more highs.
“The container shipping sector looks set to continue its extraordinary profitability cycle in 2022,” affirmed Drewry Maritime Financial Research. “Clearly, the pandemic and ensuing supply chain crisis … has supercharged carrier profits.” Fresh disruptions caused by omicron should “drive further gains.”
