Maersk has shifted its container freight pricing strategy to closely track market rates — a reversal from its pandemic-era approach, which delayed passing on surges and cost an estimated $15.8bn in lost revenue. Using Q4 23 as a baseline, Sea-Intelligence found Maersk’s rates now mirror the Container Trade Statistics global average, especially during the Red Sea disruption cycle beginning in late 2023. The consultancy confirmed the change is structural, not transient, enabling Maersk to capture revenue upside during sudden rate spikes without sacrificing downside protection.
According to The Loadstar, Maersk has overhauled its container freight pricing strategy to align more closely with real-time market movements — a marked departure from its pandemic-era approach, which delayed passing on rate increases to customers.
Pandemic-era caution cost Maersk revenue
Sea-Intelligence’s analysis, using Q4 23 as a baseline, found that during the pandemic freight surge, Maersk consistently priced below the Container Trade Statistics (CTS) global average. The Danish carrier adopted a cautious stance, apparently hoping slower rate adoption would soften the subsequent decline. But rates fell just as rapidly for Maersk as for the broader market. As Sea-Intelligence stated:
“In other words, the data showed Maersk gave away some revenue upside when rates went up, but got nothing in return when rates went down.”
The consultancy estimated that this strategy cost Maersk approximately $15.8bn in foregone revenue compared with a hypothetical scenario where its pricing had tracked the market. This figure reflects cumulative revenue loss across multiple quarters during the pandemic cycle, with Q4 23 serving as the fixed index reference point.
Sea-Intelligence emphasized that Maersk’s deviation from the CTS average was not temporary or tactical — it represented a sustained strategic choice during a period defined by extreme volatility, including sharp spikes and collapses in spot rates between Q4 2023 and mid-2024.
New discipline during the Red Sea cycle
A decisive shift occurred during what Sea-Intelligence termed the “Red Sea cycle”. Again anchoring analysis to Q4 23 as the baseline, the firm observed that Maersk’s quarterly freight rates have since moved in near-lockstep with the CTS global average amid disruption-driven market adjustments.
“Figure A4 (below) shows the deviation in Maersk’s rate from the CTS average. As can be seen, the deviation is so tiny, as to more likely constitute minor fluctuations with no discernible trend,” Sea-Intelligence noted. This tight tracking began in earnest following the escalation of Red Sea hostilities in late 2023, persisting through early 2024.
Sea-Intelligence concluded:
“What the data shows very clearly is that Maersk has changed its approach to pricing, compared to what it was doing during the pandemic.”
The firm added that Maersk now “very closely follow[s] average market developments and hence avoid[s] the loss in revenue opportunity when the rates suddenly surge.”
Source: The Loadstar
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
