Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) reported a 45.1% year-on-year increase in revenue to US$3.28 billion in the third quarter of 2026, supported by higher freight rates and increased container volumes across its major trade routes.
The Hong Kong-based shipping line handled 2.12 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during July–September, representing a 9% increase compared with the same period last year. Average revenue per TEU rose 33.1%, while loadable capacity increased 3.6% and the overall load factor improved by 4.2%.
Trans-Pacific Trade Leads Growth
The Trans-Pacific trade recorded the strongest revenue growth, with earnings rising 71.8% to US$1.44 billion. Container volumes on the route increased 13.1% to 595,139 TEUs.
Revenue from Asia–Europe services climbed 45% to US$695.8 million, while container liftings increased 15.4% to 399,162 TEUs. Intra-Asia and Australasia services generated US$947.6 million, up 23.7%, with volumes rising 4.6% to 981,336 TEUs.
Trans-Atlantic revenue increased 11.9% to US$201.8 million, supported by a 7.3% rise in container liftings to 147,008 TEUs.
Nine-Month Revenue Nears US$8 Billion
For the first nine months of 2026, OOCL generated total liner revenue of approximately US$7.96 billion, an increase of 18.9% year on year. Container liftings rose 6.5% to 6.25 million TEUs, while average revenue per TEU increased 11.6%.
The Trans-Pacific trade contributed US$3.16 billion in revenue during the nine-month period, up 27%, while Asia–Europe revenue grew 19% to US$1.70 billion.
The results highlight the impact of stronger freight earnings alongside rising container volumes. OOCL noted that the figures are operational results based on internal management accounts and are unaudited.