Cosco Shipping Ports expects limited impact from Iran conflict

Cosco Shipping Ports, a unit of state-owned Cosco Shipping, reported a 1.1 per cent rise in net profit for 2025. Executives expect limited overall impact from recent military conflicts involving the US, Israel and Iran. The firm will closely monitor Middle East developments and explore alternatives.

Cosco Shipping Ports, a unit of state-owned giant Cosco Shipping, reported modest earnings growth for 2025 amid rising geopolitical risks to global trade. Net profit rose 1.1 per cent to US$312.1 million, with revenue up 11 per cent to US$1.67 billion. Total container throughput climbed 6.2 per cent to 153 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Overseas terminals posted stronger growth at 11.5 per cent, compared to 4.6 per cent in mainland China, which accounted for about 75 per cent of total volume. The Hong Kong-listed port operator said it would “closely monitor” Middle East developments and take necessary measures for stable operations. Chairman Zhu Tao stated: “Recently, military conflicts involving the US, Israel and Iran have affected the Gulf region, including the Strait of Hormuz. In the short term, the Middle East situation will have some impact on the throughput of our Abu Dhabi terminal, but the overall impact on the group’s network and total business volume is expected to be limited.” The company has contingency plans and will explore alternative routes, including ports in the Gulf of Oman, to manage trade flows.

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