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Chinese Port and Tanker Operators Post Strong Q3 Gains on Middle East Routes

COSCO Shipping Ports recorded an 8.4 percent increase in container throughput to 42.27 million TEU during the third quarter of 2026. Concurrently, tanker operators China Merchants Energy Shipping and COSCO Shipping Energy saw net profits surge amid elevated crude freight rates on Middle East–China export routes.

Illustration: Commercial container terminal along the Persian Gulf with large container ships berthed at docks, rows of stacked shipping containers, a
Illustration

COSCO Shipping Ports reported that its terminal container throughput increased 8.4 percent year-on-year to 42.27 million TEU in the third quarter of 2026, according to Baird Maritime. The company's quarterly revenue rose 13 percent to $484.3 million, while gross profit grew 19.3 percent to $128.1 million. The operator attributed throughput expansion to operational adjustments and route realignments across Gulf and Middle East shipping lanes, alongside plans to develop feeder networks connecting Asia and the Middle East.

In the energy shipping sector, major Chinese tanker operators posted significant profit increases for the quarter, according to BigGo Finance. China Merchants Energy Shipping reported a net profit attributable to shareholders of CNY 11.983 billion (approximately $1.8 billion), representing a 263.15 percent year-on-year increase.

COSCO Shipping Energy reported a third-quarter net profit of CNY 7.389 billion (approximately $1.1 billion), up 171.9 percent year-on-year. The financial growth was driven by elevated international crude tanker freight rates on Middle East–China export lanes, including the TD34 route, which briefly reached WS800 points and climbed from $200,000 to over $800,000 per day in September amid geopolitical risk premiums.

Sources

  • UECN · 2026-10-31

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