by Lloyd's List
16 May 2025 (Lloyd's List) - CMA CGM has reported a 4.2% increase in year-on-year container volumes for the first quarter of 2025, as demand for its transport and logistics services remained buoyant.
CMA CGM said container volumes rose to 5.8m teu, which was attributed to sustained global trade and demand.
“In an unstable geopolitical context marked by unprecedented trade tensions, the group delivered solid performance in the first quarter, driven by the strength of our shipping activity and our long-term investments, particularly in terminals,” said chief executive officer Rodolphe Saadé.
“While the outlook for the rest of the year remains uncertain, our direction is clear — control our costs, strengthen our positions in growth markets, and enhance our commercial agility, notably by leveraging artificial intelligence, to meet our customers’ expectations.”
The Marseille-headquartered company said that the start of 2025 was shaped by a deteriorating geopolitical environment and the announcement of a significant increase in customs duties by countries such as the US and China.
It noted that rising tensions from the introduction of trade barriers, combined with destabilising geopolitical conflicts, are disrupting the operation of supply chains “which now need to be adapted to the new situation”.
While planned tariffs, and also port levy’s set to be introduced for China-built ships, have since been either delayed or watered down, CMA CGM Group chief financial officer Ramon Fernandez said that the situation was still being assessed.
“Half of our 680 operated ships were not built in China, but the evolving situation and process is not final,” said Fernandez. “We will assess the matter in the next quarters.”
The owner of the world’s third-largest operator of containerships posted a 12.1% rise in group revenue to $13.2bn in the first quarter, up from $11.8bn in the first three months of 2024.
Maritime shipping operations provided $8.8bn of revenues, up by 11.5% year on year.
The group’s logistics activities provided $4.3bn of revenue for the first quarter of the year, up by 10.1% year on year, while revenue from other activities including terminals, air cargo and media increased by 30.9% to $833m.
