Container shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk has reported a sharp fall in second-quarter profit, compared with the strong performance seen at the same stage in 2023.

The Danish company said profit was $623m in the second quarter of 2024, against the $1.3bn booked at the same stage 12 months ago.

The result, which reflected the lower Ebit, was adjusted for net gains of $208m, primarily driven by vessel and container sales in its Ocean division.