ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd., a global container liner shipping company, announced its consolidated results for the three months ended March 31, 2026.
First Quarter 2026 Highlights
- Net loss for the first quarter was $86 million (compared to a net income of $296 million in the first quarter of 2025), or diluted loss per share of $0.712 (compared to diluted earnings per share of $2.45 in the first quarter of 2025).
- Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter was $313 million, a year-over-year decrease of 60%.
- Operating loss (EBIT) for the first quarter was $18 million, compared to operating income of $464 million in the first quarter of 2025.
- Adjusted EBIT loss for the first quarter was $5 million, compared to Adjusted EBIT of $463 million in the first quarter of 2025.
- Revenues for the first quarter were $1.40 billion, a year-over-year decrease of 30%.
- Carried volume in the first quarter was 866 thousand TEUs, a year-over-year decrease of 8%.
- Average freight rate per TEU in the first quarter was $1,310, a year-over-year decrease of 26%.
- Net leverage ratio1 of 1.7x as of March 31, 2026, compared to 1.3x as of December 31, 2025; net debt1 of $2.93 billion as of March 31, 2026, compared to net debt of $2.92 billion as of December 31, 2025.
Eli Glickman, ZIM President & CEO, stated, “Our first quarter results were broadly in line with our expectations, reflecting a softer freight rate environment, coupled with weaker demand. Importantly, as the proposed transaction with Hapag-Lloyd moves forward and we continue to navigate the ongoing hostilities affecting Israel and the Middle East, ZIM remains firmly focused on service reliability and disciplined execution. We appreciate the strong support of our valued customers, who have remained engaged and constructive throughout this period.”
Mr. Glickman added, “The conflict in the Persian Gulf has sparked a sharp increase and significant volatility in bunkering costs. While the impact on first quarter results was minimal, we expect a more meaningful effect in the second quarter, before our actions to offset these costs, including increased freight rates and bunker-specific surcharges, begin to take hold. It is also important to note that ZIM is likely to see incremental benefits from our early adoption of LNG technology and long-term agreements with Shell securing LNG supply on competitive terms. With a fleet comprised of approximately 40% LNG-powered capacity, ZIM not only offers shippers a pathway to significantly reduced carbon emissions but maintains a fuel-efficient and cost-effective fleet.”
“Although market fundamentals remain challenging across ZIM’s main trade lanes, we have recently observed a positive change in the trend on the Transpacific trade with freight rates strengthening alongside demand. If this momentum continues, we expect it to support our financial performance, particularly in the second half of the year. In parallel, we completed annual contract negotiations, which went into effect on May 1, maintaining similar contracted volumes to last year with approximately 65% of our Transpacific volume exposed to spot rates. This approach underpins our nimble commercial strategy and allows us to stay agile and proactive in deploying capacity as demand patterns shift. Moreover, initiatives such as ZIM on Air, a newly launched service that provides combined sea and air shipping from Asia to the U.S and Europe, underscore our innovative spirit and ability to deliver differentiated solutions. We continue to receive very positive feedback from both existing and new customers who rely on ZIM to meet their evolving shipping needs.”
Mr. Glickman concluded, “Pending completion of the proposed transaction with Hapag-Lloyd, which remains subject to approvals by various regulatory authorities including the State of Israel, our commitment to operational excellence and customer service remains unchanged. The strength of our organization begins with our people, and I thank the exceptional ZIM team for its dedication and service especially during this turbulent time. With our improved cost base and modernized fleet, we believe we have built a business that is well positioned to weather near-term headwinds and support long-term profitable growth.”