Shipping Conglomerate Maersk Announces 10,000 Job Cuts Over Decline In Demand

A.P. Moller-Maersk has announced significant steps to address its challenges. The company’s shares have dropped 18% after it announced plans to cut at least 10,000 jobs following a sharp decline in its third-quarter profit and revenue.

Overcapacity problems, growing expenses, and declining prices confront Maersk, a significant participant in the global container trade.

According to CEO Vincent Clerc, it is more severe than expected. It heralds a “new normal” of muted macroeconomic conditions, soft volume demands, historical price levels, rising energy costs, and geopolitical anxiety.

In order to satisfy the robust post-pandemic demand and take advantage of record freight rates, the shipping industry made significant investments in brand-new container ships.

The situation has been made worse by an influx of new vessels that show no signs of stopping or being scrapped, which raises questions about the case in 2024.

The retail and lifestyle industry, particularly in North America, and difficulties in the automotive and technology sectors were the leading causes of the third-quarter revenue decline.

Maersk anticipates a 2% decline in global container volumes this year due to destocking by businesses after the initial spike in demand following the pandemic and weak consumer demand.

With 110,000 workers as of January, Maersk is aggressively cutting back on staff to less than 100,000, which should save the company $600 million in savings by the end of the year and even more after that.

The company continues to project revenue and operating profit for the entire year, but it expects both to come in below the lower end of the range.

The operating profit for the third quarter of the previous year decreased from $10.9 billion to $1.9 billion due to a 47% decrease in revenues to $12.1 billion.

The issues facing Maersk—which include declining demand, price adjustments, and inflationary pressures on the cost base—reflect broader shifts in the shipping industry and the status of the economy as a whole.

The company’s drastic measures demonstrate how important it is to adapt to this shifting environment and maintain sustainability in a world of rapidly expanding international trade.

References- Reuters, CNBC

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Source: Maritime Shipping News