KUCHING: Harbour-Link Group Bhd is upbeat about the performance of its container shipping business going forward after delivering strong profits in the financial year ended June 30, 2025 (FY2025).
In FY2025, Harbour-Link’s shipping and marine segment chalked up a 64 per cent jump in after-tax profit to about RM107.3 million against RM65.4 million in FY2024, up RM41.9 million (+ 64%) year-on-year. The strong earnings were in line with the segment revenue growth which surged by RM89.5 million (16%) to RM637.2 million from RM547.7 million.
In 4Q2025, the segment after-tax profit climbed by RM7.17 million (30%) to RM30.84 million (4Q2024:RM23.67 million) in tandem with a RM40.1 million increase (+ 33%) in revenue to RM161.9 million (RM121.8 million).
The Bintulu-based logistic provider attributed the significant increase in profits to higher freight rates and additional cargo tonnage transported.
“Our container shipping division continues to demonstrate resilience, maintaining stable financial performance with freight rates holding relatively steady. We remain confident that our performance in the coming quarters, leading towards the year-end, will be satisfactory,” Harbour-Link said when commenting on prospects of the group’s shipping business.
Harbour-Link provides container shipping liner service within the Malaysia and Intra-Asia markets. It operates a fleet of 12 container vessels, and has operation office in every calling port. These offices are located in Penang, Port Klang and Pasir Gudang (Peninsular Malaysia) Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri (Sarawak), Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Sandakan (Sabah), Singapore, Muara (Brunei), Hong Kong and China.
These operation offices are involved in sales and marketing activities, managing the container inventories and providing ship husbandry services.
The strong performance of the shipping business drove Harbour-Link group net profit in FY2025 to RM116.2 million as compared to RM86.2 million in FY2024 as revenue surpassed the billion ringgit mark to RM1.06 billion from RM941.6 million.
The company’s earnings per share rose to 29.15sen from 21.62sen. Harbour-Link has maintained its dividend payout of 6sen per share in FY2025.
Year-on-year, the integrated logistics segment revenue increased by about RM59 million (+27%) to RM274.2 million (RM215.2 million) but its after-tax profit slipped considerably by RM10.7 million (-42%) to RM25.44 million (RM36.2 million) due to additional overhead cost because of the delays in project execution and increase in net allowance of impairment of trade receivables by RM6.53 million.
The machineries trading segment posted marginal higher after-tax profit of RM7.7 million (RM7.62 million) despite a seven per cent drop in revenue to RM121 million (RM130.7 million) due to the completion of the supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of two units quay cranes in 2024.
Year-on-year, the engineering segment saw its revenue plunged by 28 per cent to RM28.9 million (RM40.2 million) as its projects had reached the tail end in 2025. But the segment managed to narrow its after-tax loss to RM105,000 (-RM2.59 million).
The property segment after-tax profit dropped by 74 per cent to RM1.22 million (RM4.6 million) in line with shrinking revenue to RM2.27 million (RM7.8 million) because of slowdown in sales.
As compared to the immediate preceding quarter (3Q2025), Harbour-Link produced relatively strong results as its after-tax profit increased to RM41.1 million (4Q2025) from RM30.87 million in 3Q2025 as revenue rose sharply to RM290.7 million from RM243.5 million.
On prospects for the new financial year, Harbour-Link said despite the on-going complexity and uncertainty arising from the recent tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on US trading partners, the group has not experienced any material impact on its business operations.
While the container shipping business has done well, the group’s shipping agency and integrated logistics services divisions have also performed steadily, with consistent cargo volumes handled, transported and shipped through major Malaysian ports. These operations are expected to contribute favourably to the group’s financial results going forward.
Harbour-Link expects the winning of a new civil and mechanical engineering contract for storage tank projects, which commenced last month with a 24-month duration, to strengthen the engineering and construction division’s order book and provides earnings visibility over the medium term.
“Meanwhile, rising demand for earth-moving machinery across infrastructure development, road construction and agricultural sectors is anticipated to drive strong sales, contributing positively to the group revenue in the upcoming quarters,” it added.
Harbour-Link said as the Malaysian domestic market remains vibrant, supported by substantial government and private sector investments in new projects, the group is well-positioned to capitalise on these opportunities, ensuring sustainable long-term growth.
“Looking ahead, we are progressively modernising our fleet by replacing aging vessels with newer, more efficient models.
This initiative not only enhances operational efficiency and reduce repair and maintenance costs but also ensures compliance with environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, reinforcing our commitment to responsible and sustainable growth,” concluded the company.
The group had acquired two container vessels early this year under the modernisation exercise.
