������ý

A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S replaced its CEO as the owner of the world’s biggest shipping company explores a number of “strategic options” that may include splitting up its operations.

Danish firm Maersk Group, owner of the largest ocean carrier, earlier this month reported first-quarter earnings plummeted nearly 90% to $224 million, weighed down by an even greater profit decline at Maersk Line due to downward pressure on container freight rates.

The world’s biggest shipping company is taking advantage of low industry prices to build its business across units.

A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S reported an 84% plunge in 2015 profit after its oil unit was hit by lower energy prices and the container division got squeezed between sluggish trade growth and overcapacity. The shares fell the most in almost a year.

The world’s economy is growing at a slower pace than the International Monetary Fund and other large forecasters are predicting.

A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S is scaling back capacity and cutting jobs in the world’s largest shipping line to adapt to a drop in demand.

The shipping industry expects to be stung by a carbon levy as momentum building from climate talks in Paris starting this month makes a cut to its greenhouse-gas emissions likely.

A.P. Moeller-Maersk cut its profit forecast for 2015, citing a weaker container shipping market as the outlook for global growth becomes gloomier.

A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S, owner of the world’s largest container line, said profit exceeded estimates despite a slump in freight rates.

Maersk Line, the world’s largest container shipper, reported a 57% jump in first-quarter net operating profit after tax to $714 million, missing the $783 million estimate in a survey conducted by SME Direkt.