Regional Container Lines has reported a substantial increase in profitability for the first half of 2025, with a more than two-fold rise in net profit driven by a significant jump in freight income. The Thailand-based shipping company's strong performance comes despite a slight increase in operating costs.
For the six months ending June 30, the company generated freight income of THB18.32 billion ($543.5 million), a notable increase from the THB14.28 billion recorded in the first half of 2024. This top-line growth was the primary driver behind a net profit of THB4.06 billion, up from THB1.76 billion in the corresponding period last year. The company's cost of freight and operations, a key outgoing, saw a modest increase to THB13.42 billion from THB11.86 billion.
The second quarter saw a continuation of this positive trend, with freight income rising to THB9.02 billion from THB7.49 billion in the same quarter of 2024. This contributed to a net profit of THB2 billion for the quarter, a significant increase from the THB1.15 billion profit reported in the prior-year period.
The company's financial statements also revealed a change in the estimated residual value of its vessels, a move made to better align with current market values. This accounting adjustment had a positive, albeit minor, impact on the net profit for the first half of the year. The company also noted that it had paid a final dividend of 1.50 Thai baht per share in May 2025, following shareholder approval at its annual general eeting.