HMM Co LtdHMM pauses container ship orders due to oversupply concerns, shifting focus away from core container business.
South Korean flag carrier HMM is pausing finalization of orders for at least 10 additional 13,000-TEU LNG dual-fuel container ships planned for the second half of 2026, instead tilting toward energy transportation with a focus on Suezmax tankers, medium-range petroleum tankers, very large gas carriers, and LNG carriers. The world's eighth-largest liner, with a fleet capacity of 1.01 to 1.03 million container units across roughly 70 to 97 vessels, cited growing market uncertainties from newbuild-driven oversupply, Middle East crisis costs, and U.S. tariff policies. HMM posted 2025 revenue of $7.5 to $7.7 billion, down about 7% to 9.5% year-on-year, and has recent orders exceeding $1 billion for eight bulk carriers and two gas carriers with deliveries through 2031, plus a resale contract for four very large crude carriers. A Shinhan Investment & Securities forecast for the second quarter of 2026 pegs revenue at $2.21 billion, up 25% year-on-year, with operating profit of $291.8 million, up 80.4%, while the full-year 2026 outlook was revised upward to $8.9 billion in revenue and $1.2 billion in operating profit.
HMM Co LtdHMM pauses container ship orders due to oversupply concerns, shifting focus away from core container business.
Shinhan Financial GroupShinhan Investment & Securities issued an upward revision for HMM's 2026 earnings, which may reflect positively on Shinhan's research credibility, but the article is not about Shinhan.