Maersk Slashes 1,000 Corporate Roles to Boost Efficiency
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- Maersk plans to cut 1,000 jobs, or 15% of its corporate workforce, as part of a US$180 million cost-reduction effort amid falling freight rates and excess shipping capacity.
- Despite strong 2025 financial results, Maersk’s Ocean division reported a quarterly loss due to plummeting shipping rates, prompting the company to tighten efficiency measures and announce a US$1 billion share buyback.
- Facing global shipping oversupply and uncertain trade routes, Maersk streamlines operations through job cuts and cost savings, aiming to stay competitive in a tightening maritime market.
The global shipping industry is entering a phase of consolidation. Amid declining freight rates and vessel overcapacity, Maersk has decided to cut thousands of positions as part of a large-scale efficiency drive.
Citing Riviera on Friday (Feb. 6, 2026), the Danish shipping and logistics company announced plans to close around 15% of its corporate positions — roughly 1,000 jobs out of about 6,000 at its headquarters. The move is accompanied by an overhead cost reduction of up to US$180 million. The company has already begun notifying and consulting affected employees about the layoffs.
The decision comes despite Maersk’s overall strong financial performance in 2025. The company recorded revenue of US$54 billion, an EBITDA of US$9.5 billion, and an operating profit of US$3.5 billion. However, mounting pressure in the ocean freight business prompted the firm to focus on maintaining efficiency going forward.
In its Ocean segment, shipping volumes grew, including an 8% surge in the fourth quarter of 2025. Yet, persistently declining freight rates driven by excess vessel supply turned the segment’s profits into a loss of US$153 million during the period — a sharp reversal from the US$567 million profit posted in the previous quarter.
Maersk said these conditions reflect the structural challenges facing the global shipping industry — from vessel oversupply to uncertainty across international trade routes. The company expects global container volume growth in 2026 to hover between 2% and 4%, while competition remains fierce.
Looking ahead, aside from job cuts and cost savings, Maersk has also announced a US$1 billion share buyback program over the next 12 months. The strategy is aimed at sustaining the company’s performance amid a tightening cycle in the global shipping sector.
Indonesianpost.com | Detik
