Maersk reported strong growth in its India operations and global air freight business during the first quarter of 2026, supported by rising cargo demand, higher terminal activity, and increased shipments of high-value technology products.
The Danish shipping and logistics major said air freight volumes increased 20 per cent year-on-year to 82,000 tonnes during the quarter, driven by strong transatlantic charter demand and growing shipments of AI-related cargo, semiconductors, and electronics. The company noted that demand for around 100 AI-linked product categories rose 22 per cent during January and February 2026.
In India, Maersk reported stronger terminal activity in Mumbai, contributing to a 3.4 per cent rise in volumes across its Asia terminals business. The company also continued work on a liquid berth expansion project at Pipavav as part of its long-term infrastructure investment strategy in the country.
Maersk said air cargo utilisation improved further following disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict, particularly across Asia-Pacific and African trade lanes, as supply chains adjusted to changing trade routes and capacity constraints. International cargo load factors averaged 51.6 per cent during the quarter, while air freight rates climbed toward the end of March due to geopolitical disruptions.
The company’s Logistics & Services segment posted revenue growth of 8.7 per cent year-on-year to $3.8 billion, with EBIT rising 22 per cent to $173 million. Revenue from “Transported by Maersk” services, which includes air freight operations, increased 10 per cent to $1.8 billion during the quarter.
Overall, Maersk reported group revenue of $13 billion in Q1 2026, while EBITDA stood at $1.8 billion and EBIT reached $340 million. Although lower ocean freight rates continued to pressure earnings, the company said strong cargo volume growth across logistics, terminals, and air freight operations helped support overall performance.