CEO Maersk about the forecast, trade Asia – Europe and mega container truck A.P.Moller-Maersk’s forecast for 2013

In the published in the end of February report A.P.Moller-Maersk predicted that the profit in the group in 2013 will be lower than in 2012. Herewith both Maersk Line and APM Terminals, as it is expected, should demonstrate higher financial results than in 2012. However, at least the nearest two years are going to be rather difficult, that was declared in the CNN interview by the group A.P.Moller-Maersk CEO Niels Andersen.

The reasons are lying on the surface – an excess of tonnage on the one hand and much slower growth of demand, than it used to be, on the other. “We feel on ourselves the reduction of global trades’ rate and we realize that 2013 will not be simpler than 2012”. However, 2013 won’t be more difficult as well, N. Andersen thinks. “Don’t forget that in 2012 we got the profit in the sphere of line container transportation in spite of the fact, that in the first quarter there was a rare loss, we saw a very slow growth in the first half year and a stagnation in the second. <…> We are looking in the future with a careful optimism, we will be able to get a profit in shipping a bit higher than in 2012”.

Herewirh Maersk in forecasting a lowering or at least an absence of growth in the first half of 2013. In last couple of years, N. Andersen reminded, the company invested into the African, South American and Latin America market, diversifying business geography outside trade Asia – Europe. However, on that trade there are also positive sides – “We see the lowering of labour in South Europe, we see the growth of export, especially in South Europe, for Asia we see that China is rushing to high consumption in the inner market”.

Speaking about 18-thousenders, which Maersk is building and is going to set on service in such uneasy time, N. Andersen underlines, that the ships will be brought into the system gradually in the nearest two and a half years, herewith the container lines will rule their fleet reasonably, expenses will be lowered.