In this article, we will take a look at the 5 most valuable shipping companies in the world. To read our analysis of the recent market trends, you can go to the 15 Most Valuable Shipping Companies in The World.
5. Orient Overseas Container Line
Market Capitalization as of February 9: $11.8 billion
Hong Kong-based Orient Overseas (International) Limited (HKEX:0316), doing business under the trade names “Orient Overseas Container Line” and “OOCL”, is one of the world’s largest integrated international container transportation and logistics companies with a network that encompasses Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Australasia.
Orient Overseas Container Line has a fleet of more than 100 vessels with an operating capacity of more than 750,000 TEU. The company ordered 12 container vessels with 23,000 TEU capacity each, in 2020 and 10 container vessels with 16,000 TEU capacity in 2022. The delivery of these vessels is expected to start from 2023, and between Q4 2024 to Q4 2025, respectively.
The massive increase in container rates benefited Orient Overseas Container Line significantly as the company managed to boost its top and bottom lines during 1H 2022. Its revenue increased by 58% y-o-y to $11.1 billion while net income surged by 101% y-o-y to $5.7 billion.
4. Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (TYO:9101)
Market Capitalization as of February 9: $12.6 billion
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, also known as NYK Line, is a global shipping and logistics company based in Tokyo, Japan, and founded in 1885. Its fleet comprises of 658 vessels with an aggregate capacity of 56.4 million DWT, and includes 55 container ships, 382 bulk carriers, 108 car carriers, 68 tankers, and 45 other vessels.
On February 3, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha released its financial results for the nine months ended December 31, 2022. Its revenue increased by 22% y-o-y to ¥2.05 trillion ($15.5 billion), while net income surged by 33% y-o-y to ¥920 billion (7.0 billion).
In January this year, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha ordered its fifth dual-fuel very large LPG / liquefied ammonia gas carrier (VLGC) from Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. The vessel is expected to be delivered in 2026 is the seventh in the company’s fleet with the ability to run on LPG.
3. COSCO Shipping Holdings Co., Ltd. (HKEX:1919)
Market Capitalization as of February 9: $24.5 billion
COSCO Shipping Holdings Co., Ltd., commonly known as COSCO Shipping, is a Chinese state-owned company formed through the merger of COSCO Group and China Shipping Group. COSCO Shipping is one of the largest shipping companies in the world based on its fleet which comprises of 1,403 vessels with a capacity of 113.84 million DWT, including 441 dry bulk vessels, 227 tankers, and 174 general and specialized cargo vessels, among others.
COSCO Shipping Holdings Co., Ltd. is the third most valuable shipping company across the world based on its market capitalization of $24.5 billion. Its shares are listed on the Honk Kong Stock Exchange as well as the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The company generated a revenue of $47.9 billion, and a net income of $14.7 billion, for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
2. A.P. Moller – Maersk A/S
Market Capitalization as of February 9: $40.6 billion
Copenhagen, Denmark-based A.P. Moller – Maersk A/S is one of the largest integrated transportation and logistics companies across the world with a presence in more than 130 countries worldwide. As of December 31, its fleet comprised of 707 container vessels, including owned and chartered vessels, with an aggregate capacity of 4.3 million TEU.
A.P. Moller – Maersk A/S recorded a significant increase in its top and bottom line on a year-on-year basis in FY 2022. Its revenues surged by 32% y-o-y to $81.5 billion while net income increased by 63% y-o-y to $29.3 billion.
A.P. Moller – Maersk A/S ordered 6 large ocean-going vessels that can sail on green methanol during 2022, in addition to the 13 vessels ordered in the previous year.
1. Hapag-Lloyd
Market Capitalization as of February 9: $51.2 billion
Hapag-Lloyd AG is the most valuable shipping company in the world based on its market capitalization of nearly $47 billion. The Hamburg-based traces its history back to 1847 and currently operates a fleet of more than 250 container vessels with an aggregate capacity of 1.8 million TEU. It is one of the leading operators in the Transatlantic, Middle East, Latin America, and Intra-America trades with 123 liner services worldwide connecting more than 600 ports.
On January 31, Hapag-Lloyd AG released its preliminary results for FY 2022. Its revenue increased by 38% y-o-y to $36.4 billion, while EBIT surged by 67% y-o-y to $18.5 billion, mainly due to the massive surge in freight rates.
On October 4, 2022, Hapag-Lloyd AG agreed to acquire the terminal business of SM SAAM S.A., which includes 10 terminals in six countries in North, Central and South America, for nearly $1.0 billion. It also acquired 5 second-hand vessels with a total capacity of 19,329 TEU during H1 2022.
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