Maersk reports first loss for 60 years

Maersk has reported its first annual loss for 60 years and also forecasts making a modest profit in 2010 given its inability to increase prices.

For 2009, it made a net loss of $1.29bn, compared with a profit of $3.12bn the previous year. Analysts had previously suggested the company would lose $1bn.

The company’s container business made a loss of $2.09bn last year, following a profit the previous year of $583m.