Container liner company ZIM has published its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2026.
Net income for Q2 2026 was US$64 million, compared to US$24 million in Q2 2025. This resulted in diluted earnings per share of US$0.53, compared to US$0.19 in Q2 2025. Operating income for Q2 2026 was US$144 million, compared to US$149 million for Q2 2025.
Adjusted net income for the second quarter was US$77 million, compared to US$24 million in the same period last year. Adjusted gross operating profit for the second quarter was US$491 million, a year-over-year increase of four per cent.
Revenues for the second quarter were US$1.78 billion, a year-over-year increase of nine per cent. This was mainly driven by the increase in freight rates as well as carried volume.
ZIM's carried volume in the second quarter was 922,000 TEUs, a year-over-year increase of three per cent. Average freight rate per TEU in the second quarter was US$1,590, a year-over-year increase of eight per cent.
Free cash flow of US$386 million was generated during Q2 2026. Net cash position (total cash position minus financial debt; i.e., excluding lease liabilities) was US$2.46 billion as of June 30, 2026.
"ZIM's strong second-quarter results demonstrated the resilience of its business," the company said in a press release.
"ZIM's strategic presence in the trans-Pacific trade enabled the company to capitalise on favourable market conditions, which together with ZIM's modern, fuel-efficient and cost-effective fleet and agile commercial strategy, drove improved year-over-year profitability."
Total revenues were US$3.18 billion for the first half of 2026, compared to US$3.64 billion for the first half of 2025, primarily driven by the decrease in freight rates as well as carried volume.
ZIM carried 1.788 million TEUs in H1 2026, compared to 1.839 million TEUs H1 2025. The average freight rate per TEU was US$1,455 for the first half of 2026, compared to US$1,632 for the first half of 2025.
Operating income for H1 2026 was US$126 million, compared to US$613 million for the H1 2025. The decrease in operating income for the first half of 2026 was primarily driven by the above-mentioned decrease in total revenues.
Net loss for the first half of 2026 was US$22 million, compared to net income of US$320 million for the first half of 2025, mainly driven by the above-mentioned decrease in total revenues, partially offset by the impact of income taxes. Adjusted net income for the first half of 2026 was US$4 million, compared to US$318 million for the first half of 2025.