Higher fuel costs hit Regional Container Lines (RCL) last year dragging the company into the minus.
In addition the growth of freight operation costs is connected with a dramatic 33.6% increase in bunker costs.
“The unfavourable loss was substantially due to rise in cost of bunker, despite better performance in revenue and liftings, and containment of other costs,” RCL said.
In 2018 RCL handled 869,325 TEU for Shipper Owned Container (SOC) and 1.24m TEU of Carrier Owned Container (COC), representing a year-on-year increase of 9.7% and 11.9%, respectively.
Commenting on the outlook the company said: “Amid the on-going trade war and uncertainties in the geo-political front, RCL will continue to improve its efficiency by further reducing its costs, using new technology in operation and to increase other income in the areas where possible.”
