Hamburg, Germany – Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen has downplayed concerns over new U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, stating the shipping giant can adapt to shifts in trade flows.
“It is too early to push the panic button,” Jansen said, emphasizing that foreseeable changes like tariffs are easier to manage than unexpected disruptions, such as recent Red Sea attacks on vessels in the Suez Canal.
Despite past tariffs imposed during Donald Trump’s first term, global trade continued to grow. Jansen remains optimistic, noting that shipping volumes could rise between 2.8% and 3% in 2025, with Hapag-Lloyd expected to outpace industry growth.
Meanwhile, the company launched its Gemini partnership with Maersk on February 1, integrating a fleet of 340 ships across seven major trade routes. In preliminary 2024 results, Hapag-Lloyd reported a fourfold increase in Q4 earnings, with full-year financials due on March 20.