Maersk said underlying earnings were now expected to come in between $8bn and $10bn in FY26, up from its prior range of $4.5bn to $7bn.
Freight rates have surged over the past week as companies move to secure inventory from China before the Trump administration imposes a new round of tariffs from late July, with further duties on industrial goods due next month.
The increases have pushed shipping costs to their highest levels since the Red Sea crisis in late summer 2024, when Houthi rebel attacks forced western carriers to reroute via the Cape of Good Hope.
Maersk said the guidance upgrade reflected "continued strong demand in the container market, particularly in the Far East, and a recent sustained increase in spot market rates". It now expects global container‑market volume growth of around 4% in 2026, compared with its previous forecast of 2 to 4%.
Industry executives also noted that rising fuel costs linked to the US‑Israeli war against Iran had further boosted demand for container shipping in Q2.
As of 0945 BST, Maersk shares were up 0.28% at DKK 15,940 each.
Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com