Matson reported net income of $119.9 million, or $3.40 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. Net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 was $266.0 million, or $6.89 per diluted share. Consolidated revenue for the third quarter 2023 was $827.5 million compared with $1,114.8 million for the third quarter 2022.
“Matson’s Ocean Transportation and Logistics business segments continued to perform well despite a challenging business environment and relatively difficult economic conditions impacting the U.S. consumer,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Matt Cox. “Within Ocean Transportation, our China service experienced solid freight demand despite the muted peak season in the Transpacific tradelane but generated lower year-over-year volume and freight rates, which were the primary contributors to the year-over-year decline in our consolidated operating income. Currently in the Transpacific marketplace, we continue to see a reduction of deployed capacity in light of lower volumes as a result of lower consumer demand for retail goods. Absent an economic ‘hard landing’ in the U.S., we expect trade dynamics in 2024 to be comparable to 2023 as consumer-related spending activity is expected to remain stable. Regardless of the economic backdrop, we expect to continue to earn a significant rate premium to the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index reflecting our fast and reliable ocean services and unmatched destination services.”
Mr. Cox added, “In our domestic ocean tradelanes, we saw lower year-over-year volumes in Hawaii, Alaska and Guam compared to the year ago period. The year-over-year decline in Hawaii volume was primarily due to lower general demand. The year-over-year volume declines in Guam and Alaska were primarily driven by lower general demand and lower seafood volume, respectively. In Logistics, operating income decreased year-over-year primarily due to a lower contribution from transportation brokerage.”
“Looking ahead, we expect Matson’s consolidated operating income in the fourth quarter of 2023 to be higher than the level achieved in the first quarter of 2023,” said Mr. Cox.