Hapag-Lloyd Confident in Handling US Tariffs on Chinese Products
Hamburg, Germany - Hapag-Lloyd, a leading container shipping liner, remains optimistic in its ability to navigate the impact of US tariffs on Chinese goods.
"It is premature to panic," said CEO Rolf Habben Jansen. "We can adjust to changes in transport flows."
According to Habben Jansen, the company's flexible operations allow it to adapt to foreseeable events, including the recent tariff adjustments. He emphasized that past tariffs imposed by the Trump administration during his first term had not significantly hindered global trade growth.
"The US economy needs goods to grow," Habben Jansen said. "This suggests that shipping volumes will continue to increase, projected to rise between 2.8% and 3% in 2025."
Hapag-Lloyd expects to outperform the industry average in terms of growth. The company's collaboration with Maersk through the Gemini alliance has expanded its network to 340 ships across seven trade corridors.
Preliminary earnings for 2024 showed a surge in fourth-quarter earnings, contributing to a modest rise in annual profit. The comprehensive financial results for 2024 will be announced on March 20.