Vast forwarding network helps DP World see surge in first-half profit

Revenue rises at Dubai-based ports operator

Fairview Container Terminal, Port of Prince Rupert, B.C. (Photo: Prince Rupert Port Authority)

Global port operator DP World said first-half revenue and earnings climbed on container volume more than 5% higher than a year ago.  

Revenue grew by 20.4% year-on-year to $11.2 billion from $9.3 billion, while adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) surged 21.4% to $3.03 billion from $2.5 billion.

Worldwide container volume through the company’s ports and terminals increased 5.6% to 45.4 million twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) for the period ending June 30.

Dubai-based DP World operates in more than 75 countries and has total container handling capacity of in excess of 102 million TEUs, or better than 9% of global port container throughput. Since 2018 it has acquired a half-dozen non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs), giving it freight-forwarding capabilities at 300 locations covering 90% of global trade lanes. 

While DP World does not own container terminals in the United States, it is the operator of Fairview Container Terminal at Canada’s Port of Prince Rupert, a key gateway for international shipments moving to the U.S. Midwest via Canadian National Railway. Fairview tonnage through July was 5.15 million metric tons, up from 4.69 million tons for the same period in 2024.

The company’s container volume through the Americas/Australia region grew 7.9% to 6.87 million TEUs in the first half of the year.

EBITDA margin improved to 27% from 26.8% y/y.

Pre-tax earnings (EBIT) rose to $1.9 billion from $1.5 billion, while profit soared to $960 million from $570 million. 

“Ongoing geopolitical tensions, the continued closure of the Red Sea route, and rising uncertainty around global trade tariffs have caused significant disruption across the industry,” said DP World Group Chairman and Chief Executive Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, in a statement accompanying the earnings release. “Despite these challenges, our strategy of delivering integrated end-to-end solutions and operating critical infrastructure in key markets has allowed us to continue supporting cargo owners to move their freight and to deliver a strong set of results.”

This article was updated August 26 to correct that Canadian National serves the Port of Prince Rupert.

Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here.

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Stuart Chirls

Stuart Chirls is a journalist who has covered the full breadth of railroads, intermodal, container shipping, ports, supply chain and logistics for Railway Age, the Journal of Commerce and IANA. He has also staffed at S&P, McGraw-Hill, United Business Media, Advance Media, Tribune Co., The New York Times Co., and worked in supply chain with BASF, the world's largest chemical producer. Reach him at stuartchirls@firecrown.com.