The overall profit of the global shipping industry plunged by 56% in the second quarter of 2025
According to a report by shipping finance analyst John McCown, the net profit of the global container shipping industry dropped to 4.4 billion US dollars in the second quarter of 2025, a 56% decrease from 9.9 billion US dollars in the first quarter and a 63.7% decline from 12 billion US dollars in the second quarter of 2024. This is already the third consecutive quarter that the industry's profits have declined.
John McCown said that the decline in profits was mainly attributed to the continuous impact of changes in tariffs and trade policies, especially those of the United States. Since the beginning of 2025, the volume of imported containers in the United States has continued to weaken. In the three months ending in July, it decreased by 3.6% year-on-year. The National Retail Federation of the United States predicts that the total volume of imported containers in the United States for the whole year of 2025 will decline by 5.6% compared with 2024. The complexity related to tariffs not only reduces the volume of container transportation, but also leads to low efficiency, increased costs and supply chain disruptions in maritime operations. In addition, the United States Trade Representative plans to impose punitive fees on ships built in China or operated by Chinese carriers in October, which may push up operating costs and further intensify industry pressure.
Looking ahead to the third quarter, John McCown expects industry profits to deteriorate further, with the profit range possibly being only between 1.9 billion and 2.5 billion US dollars. He pointed out that the persistence of existing tariffs and trade restrictions is expected to maintain profit pressure, while the industry will also be hit by the "sky-high port charges" proposed by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, which may lead to the withdrawal of capacity or an increase in freight rates, especially on the key route from Asia to the west coast of the United States.
Looking ahead, Tianjin Cargo Airlines will continue to uphold the development philosophy of safety, efficiency and innovation, continuously optimize the layout of its route network, enhance the quality of operation services, and strengthen in-depth collaboration with domestic and foreign partners, contributing more to promoting the high-quality development of China's air cargo industry and serving the implementation of major national strategies.