Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) reported a 45.1% increase in liner revenue during the third quarter of 2026, reaching US$3.28 billion, as higher freight earnings and growing container volumes supported its performance.
According to its latest operational update, the shipping company handled 2.12 million TEU between July and September, up 9% from the same period in 2025.
Meanwhile, OOCL’s overall average revenue per TEU increased by 33.1% year-on-year. Loadable capacity grew by 3.6%, while the overall load factor improved by 4.2%.
The results highlight stronger revenue growth across the carrier’s major trade routes, particularly the Trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe markets.
Trans-Pacific drives OOCL revenue growth
The Trans-Pacific trade recorded the strongest revenue increase during the quarter.
Revenue on the route surged 71.8% to US$1.44 billion, compared with US$837.9 million in the third quarter of 2025.
Container liftings also increased by 13.1% to 595,139 TEU.
Similarly, OOCL’s Asia-Europe services generated US$695.8 million in revenue, up 45% year-on-year. Volumes on the route rose 15.4% to 399,162 TEU.
Intra-Asia and Australasia services recorded revenue growth of 23.7%, reaching US$947.6 million. Container volumes increased by 4.6% to 981,336 TEU.
Meanwhile, Trans-Atlantic revenue rose 11.9% to US$201.8 million, while liftings increased 7.3% to 147,008 TEU.
Nine-month revenue approaches US$8 billion
OOCL also reported growth across its operations during the first nine months of 2026.
Total liner revenue reached US$7.96 billion, representing an 18.9% increase compared with the same period last year.
Container liftings rose 6.5% to 6.25 million TEU, while loadable capacity increased by 4.8%.
In addition, average revenue per TEU improved by 11.6%, and the overall load factor increased by 1.4%.
The Trans-Pacific remained the company’s largest revenue-generating trade, contributing US$3.16 billion during the nine-month period. This represented a 27% increase year-on-year.
Asia-Europe revenue also climbed 19% to US$1.70 billion.
The figures indicate that higher average freight earnings contributed significantly to OOCL’s revenue growth, alongside increased container volumes.
However, the company stressed that its overall financial performance also depends on operating costs and expenses.
OOCL’s quarterly operational figures are unaudited and based on internal management accounts.
