Orient Overseas earnings up 15 percent, warns of uncertainties, additional US levies

Orient Overseas (International) (0316) posted a nearly 15 percent rise in first-half profit to US$954 million, and raised the interim dividend by a similar rate to 72 US cents.

Revenue for the shipping giant rose nearly 5 percent to US$4.88 billion in the six months. Total liftings for the first half of 2025 increased by 7 percent and total liner revenues increased by 4 percent, both new highs after the pandemic, it said. 

Still, OOIL warned that ongoing policy uncertainties, developments in the Red Sea, continued delivery of new vessels, changes in the global economy, and gradually tightening of environmental regulations could all have profound impacts on overall market development. 

The additional port charges levied by the US on Chinese carriers will have a relatively large impact on the group, it added.