A.P. Moller-Maersk concerned about impact of increasing trade tensions

Danish shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk is warning that trade tensions between the United States and China could weigh on business.

The company said a brewing trade war between the two had created uncertainty and could "reduce global container trade by 0.5 to 2.0 per cent during 2019-2020".

Maersk's share price was down 1 per cent in afternoon trading in Copenhagen.

The warning came as the company said third-quarter revenues increased 31 per cent to $10.1 billion from $7.7 billion a year earlier. That helped Maersk post a net profit from continuing operations of $191 million against last year's loss of $112 million.

Chief Executive Soeren Skou said Wednesday that the financial performance was helped by an emergency bunker surcharge and synergies related to the 2017 acquisition of German container shipping company Hamburg Sud.