Matson's fourth quarter maritime earnings remain steady

Matson Reports Slight Dip in Q4 Earnings Amid Lower Container Traffic

Matson, a U.S.-headquartered container shipping company, experienced a small decline in fourth-quarter performance due to reduced container movement, though its joint venture terminal operations provided some financial support.

Compared to the same period in 2025, the company’s container volume dropped by 2.3%, with shipments from China falling 7.2% as a result of ongoing trade tensions.

Matson’s ocean transportation segment generated $136 million in operating income, a slight decrease from $137.4 million the previous year. Revenue for the quarter reached $704.2 million, down from $742.1 million year-over-year.

Headquartered in Honolulu, Matson (NYSE: MATX) reported $9.3 million in revenue from its SSA Terminals partnership, which operates at U.S. West Coast ports including Tacoma. The company also recorded an $18 million write-off related to SSAT in 2025.

Looking ahead, Matson anticipates first-quarter volumes to remain below last year’s levels, but expects overall annual traffic to slightly surpass 2025, supported by steady U.S. consumer demand and a stable trans-Pacific trade environment.

For the full year, Matson’s ocean shipping revenue totaled $2.74 billion, a decrease from $2.81 billion the previous year. Operating income declined to $455.6 million from $500.9 million. The company’s results also reflected $6.4 million in trade war-related port fees paid to China during a period of reciprocal tariffs between Beijing and Washington.