Recently, Deheng Shipping Co., Ltd. (referred to as Deheng Shipping) released its first annual report since going public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in November 2024.

In 2024, Deheng Shipping's operating income reached $1.34 billion, a year-on-year increase of 53.3%, with the net profit attributable to equity shareholders at $366 million, a 1666.9% increase from the previous year.

The growth was attributed to Deheng Shipping's statement that they primarily benefited from route expansions, particularly in high freight rate shipping markets such as the Middle East, the Red Sea region, and trans-Pacific routes. Additionally, the addition of the Indonesia route and the deployment of 7000 TEU vessels on the India-Australia route increased capacity and market competitiveness, further driving volume growth.

In 2024, Deheng Shipping made significant progress in route expansion and fleet expansion. The report indicates that the Asian regional market maintained steady development with a volume of 1,189,429 TEU, representing a growth of approximately 1.2% year-on-year. Furthermore, the volumes in the trans-Pacific market, East Africa market, and the Middle East market were 32,944 TEU, 68,880 TEU, and 26,812 TEU, respectively.

Deheng Shipping emphasized that these strategic expansions not only optimized capacity allocation but also effectively increased market share and overall profitability. Despite intense market competition, the company ensured business stability through flexible operational strategies and precise market positioning, further solidifying its position as a core development region in the Asia-Pacific market.

Regarding capacity, the report shows that Deheng Shipping received a total of 8 new vessels during the reporting period, including 1 vessel of 1100 TEU, 1 vessel of 2900 TEU, and 6 vessels of 7000 TEU.

As of December 31, 2024, Deheng Shipping operated 46 routes, including 11 independent operations, 22 joint ventures, 10 slot exchanges, and 3 slot leases, covering 61 major ports in 20 countries and regions worldwide.

According to Alphaliner statistics as of March 28, 2025, Deheng Shipping's operational capacity consisted of 41 vessels and 99,483 TEU, with 34 owned vessels accounting for 76,046 TEU and 7 leased vessels accounting for 23,437 TEU, ranking 21st globally in terms of capacity.

Deheng Shipping forecasts that the global demand growth rate for container shipping in 2025 will remain between 3% to 4%, but fluctuations in freight rates may occur due to supply and demand changes and geopolitical influences.

Moreover, developments in U.S. politics may bring further changes, especially in positions on issues such as trade policies with China, the Russia-Ukraine situation, and unrest in the Middle East. Recently, the U.S. government has been adjusting its global strategic positioning, potentially impacting stability in the global shipping market profoundly, such as strengthening influence in Greenland, the Panama Canal, and the Suez Canal, as well as enhancing North American economic integration.

Looking ahead to 2025, Deheng Shipping stated that it will continue to optimize route layouts, deepen supply chain integration, flexibly adjust operational strategies to adapt to market changes, and drive long-term sustainable growth, maintaining its competitive edge in regional and global markets.