Copenhagen, Denmark – A.P. Moller – Maersk’s (Maersk) financial results for third quarter of 2023 were in line with expectations in a difficult market environment with rates well off their 2022 peak and tested by the increase of capacity in Ocean. Revenue was USD 12.1bn compared to USD 22.8bn in Q3 2022 with an EBIT margin at 4.4% impacted by lower freight rates and lower volumes. Maersk maintains its guidance ranges but now expects to be towards the lower end of the ranges.

Our industry is facing a new normal with subdued demand, prices back in line with historical levels and inflationary pressure on our cost base. Since the summer, we have seen overcapacity across most regions triggering price drops and no noticeable uptick in ship recycling or idling. Given the challenging times ahead, we accelerated several cost and cash containment measures to safeguard our financial performance. While continuously streamlining our organisation and operations, we remain dedicated to our strategy of fulfilling our customers’ diversified supply chain needs while pursuing growth opportunities across our Terminals business and Logistic & Services.

Vincent Clerc
CEO of Maersk

Ocean reported a 9% increase in volumes since the previous quarter and a strong cost focus supported an 11% decrease in unit cost at fixed bunker compared to Q3 2022. However, EBIT was negative at USD 27m, down from USD 8.7bn in Q3 2022, driven by significant pressure on rates, in particular on Asia to Europe, North America and Latin America trades.

Revenue in Logistics & Services was USD 3.5bn compared to USD 4.2bn in Q3 2022. The segment was impacted negatively by lower prices, especially in the air and haulage market, while volumes were broadly back in line with last year’s level. Increased cost management helped stabilise margins sequentially.

Terminals reported revenue at USD 1.0bn compared with USD 1.1.bn in Q3 2022 driven by less demand for storage amid eased global congestion and a 4.1% decline in volume. Results were strong as a combination of price adjustments and cost measures. Return on invested capital (ROIC) increased to 10.3%, exceeding the expectation of above 9% towards 2025.

Enhancing competitiveness and resilience through a leaner operation

Maersk has imposed rigorous cost containment measures during the year to effectively cushion the impact of the challenging market conditions, including headcount reduction from 110,000 early 2023 to around 103,500 today. Given the worsening price outlook in Ocean, Maersk is intensifying those measures and today introduce plans to further decrease the workforce by 3,500 positions, with up to 2,500 to be carried out in the coming months and the remaining to extend into 2024. This will reduce the global workforce to below 100,000 positions. Accordingly, total expected restructuring charge is now expected at USD 350m, up from USD 150m announced in February.

The adjustment of the workforce complements the decisive actions taken on cost containment throughout the year. The accumulated effect will bring down Maersk’s selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) cost by USD 600m for 2024. In addition, CAPEX spend has been adjusted downward for 2023 and 2024 and further measures are under review, including the continuation of the share buyback program into 2024. Guidance for 2024 will be given on 8 February 2024, as part of the release of the Annual Results.

Financial guidance for 2023

Maersk now sees global container volume growth in the range of -2% to -0.5% compared to -4% to -1% previously. Ocean expects to grow in line with the market.

Maersk maintains its ranges for the full year 2023 guidance but now expects results towards the lower end of the previously communicated ranges of underlying EBITDA of USD 9.5-11.0bn and underlying EBIT of USD 3.5-5.0bn. Guidance for free cash flow (FCF) of at least USD 3.0bn remains unchanged.

CAPEX is now expected at around USD 8.0bn (previously USD 9.0-10.0bn) for 2022-2023 and USD 8.0-9.0bn (previously USD 10.0-11.0bn) for 2023-2024.

For the announced restructuring cost of USD 350m (previously USD 150m), the majority will be recognised in 2023. The total cost savings are expected to be around USD 600m in 2024 compared to 2023.

Guidance USDbn
Guidance
EBITDA Underlying at lower end of range
USDbn
9.5-11.0
Guidance
EBIT Underlying at lower end of range
USDbn
3.5-5.0
Guidance
Free cash flow at least
USDbn
3.0
Guidance
CAPEX guidance 2022-2023
USDbn
~8.0
Guidance
CAPEX guidance 2023-2024
USDbn
8.0-9.0

Cash distribution to shareholders

A total distribution of cash to shareholders of USD 763m from share buy-backs took place during Q3 2023.

Financial highlights


Highlights Q3

Revenue

USD million 2023 Q3 2022 Q3
USD million
Ocean
2023 Q3
7,897
2022 Q3
18,018
USD million
Logistics & Services
2023 Q3
3,517
2022 Q3
4,182
USD million
Terminals
2023 Q3
999
2022 Q3
1,117
USD million
Towage & Maritime Services
2023 Q3
483
2022 Q3
591
USD million
Unallocated activities, eliminations, etc.
2023 Q3
-767
2022 Q3
-1,141
USD million
A.P. Moller - Maersk consolidated
2023 Q3
12,129
2022 Q3
22,767

EBITDA

USD million 2023 Q3 2022 Q3
USD million
Ocean
2023 Q3
1,133
2022 Q3
9,924
USD million
Logistics & Services
2023 Q3
339
2022 Q3
394
USD million
Terminals
2023 Q3
353
2022 Q3
391
USD million
Towage & Maritime Services
2023 Q3
90
2022 Q3
127
USD million
Unallocated activities, eliminations, etc.
2023 Q3
-37
2022 Q3
26
USD million
A.P. Moller - Maersk consolidated
2023 Q3
1,878
2022 Q3
10,862

EBIT

USD million 2023 Q3 2022 Q3
USD million
Ocean
2023 Q3
-27
2022 Q3
8,734
USD million
Logistics & Services
2023 Q3
136
2022 Q3
258
USD million
Terminals
2023 Q3
270
2022 Q3
357
USD million
Towage & Maritime Services
2023 Q3
194
2022 Q3
100
USD million
Unallocated activities, eliminations, etc.
2023 Q3
-35
2022 Q3
28
USD million
A.P. Moller - Maersk consolidated
2023 Q3
538
2022 Q3
9,477

CAPEX

USD million 2023 Q3 2022 Q3
USD million
Ocean
2023 Q3
443
2022 Q3
520
USD million
Logistics & Services
2023 Q3
196
2022 Q3
163
USD million
Terminals
2023 Q3
113
2022 Q3
199
USD million
Towage & Maritime Services
2023 Q3
60
2022 Q3
58
USD million
Unallocated activities, eliminations, etc.
2023 Q3
7
2022 Q3
-34
USD million
A.P. Moller - Maersk consolidated
2023 Q3
819
2022 Q3
906

Sensitivity guidance

Financial performance for A.P. Moller - Maersk for 2023 depends on several factors subject to uncertainties related to the given uncertain macroeconomic conditions, bunker fuel prices and freight rates. All else being equal, the sensitivities for 2023 for four key assumptions are listed below:

Factors Change

Effect on EBIT
(Rest of 2023)

Factors
Container freight rate
Change
+/- 100 USD/FFE

Effect on EBIT
(Rest of 2023)

+/- USD 0.3bn
Factors
Container freight volume
Change
+/- 100,000 FFE

Effect on EBIT
(Rest of 2023)

+/- USD 0.1bn
Factors
Bunker price (net of expected BAF coverage)
Change
+/- 100 USD/tonne

Effect on EBIT
(Rest of 2023)

+/- USD 0.1bn
Factors
Foreign exchange rate (net of hedges)
Change
+/- 10% change in USD

Effect on EBIT
(Rest of 2023)

+/- USD 0.0bn

About Maersk

A.P. Moller - Maersk is an integrated logistics company working to connect and simplify its customers’ supply chains. As a global leader in logistics services, the company operates in more than 130 countries and employs around 100,000 people. Maersk is aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2040 across the entire business with new technologies, new vessels, and low-emission fuels.

For more information, please contact:

Mikkel linnet profile
Mikkel Linnet
Head of Global Media Relations
+45 24821196
Morten Buttler profile
Morten Buttler
Senior Media Relations Advisor, Finance
+45 28148202

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