Following hard on the heels of other major shipping powers like AP Moeller Maersk, French group CMA CGM, who have been among the most troubled of the container companies in recent months, today produced their first half interim figures for 2010,and,as with the rest, they show a rise in revenue.
In addition to the year on year comparative revenue jump, 41% up to $6.8 billion, there was a satisfying rise in TEU throughput, up 22% at 4.4 million. CMA CGM put the revenue/traffic balance down to superior management strategy (naturally) claiming that their lower fixed-cost base resulted in one of the shipping industry’s highest operating margins (EBITDA), at 15.5% for the first half and 18.8% for the second quarter alone.