Maersk statement on military-related cargo shipments

Maersk’s business operations are guided by international standards for responsible business conduct, including the UN Global Compact and OECD guidelines.

Maersk upholds a strict policy of not shipping weapons or ammunition to active conflict zones, ensuring compliance with international regulations and alignment with our company values. We conduct heightened due diligence, particularly in regions affected by active conflicts, including Israel and Gaza, and regularly adapt this due diligence to the changing context. From the outset of the current conflict between Hamas and Israel and as it escalated, we have enhanced our cargo review and acceptance procedures as well as implemented additional compliance measures to reinforce our commitment to responsible operations within the framework of international standards. We draw the line between what we accept to transport and what we don’t after careful consideration of the recommendations, laws and regulations. While we realise that our line may not coincide with the wishes of everybody, it does ensure that we are within the frameworks that define responsible business practice and uphold our values.

As a global company, we serve all types of customers, including companies, institutions and states. We also have contracts with the U.S. government through the inclusion of our U.S. flag subsidiary, Maersk Line, Limited (MLL), in the Maritime Security Program. In support of official U.S. policy, these contracts include the transportation of cargo to over 180 countries under security cooperation programs, including also the transportation of civilian and military-related cargo to Israel, and follow a consistent approach across countries.

Furthermore, the cargo shipped by MLL on behalf of the U.S. government to Israel has always had an overall, clear restriction. The U.S. security cooperation program prohibits transporting classified or sensitive cargo, which includes weapons and ammunition, without a Transportation Plan submitted by the transporter and approved by the U.S. government. MLL has never submitted a Transportation Plan for approval of these types of shipments, which confirms that MLL has never transported classified or sensitive equipment under this program.

The Middle East conflict has geopolitical, security and tragic humanitarian consequences across the region. It is extraordinarily complex, with decades of tension often provoking activism and tense polarized public debate with little room for nuances.

As a global corporation, we work with a diverse range of stakeholders from all parts of the world. We choose to build a company with a culture that accommodates and embraces profound differences in values, opinions and perspectives. Our core values encompass mutual respect, attentiveness and open-mindedness. These values and a firm stance against being pressured into a singular worldview are essential to navigating and collaborating across complex, diverse - and sometimes conflicting - perspectives.

We firmly believe in patient dialogue within the political system to address the root causes of major global conflicts. We also fully respect the democratic right to peacefully protest and the important role the civil society plays in democracy, and we of course support a society where everyone can debate and disagree.

That said, it is a known and common tactic among some activist groups to attribute fabricated actions or viewpoints to an opponent or institutions and to use these misrepresentations to garner public attention and further support for their cause. This is what we are seeing unfold in the specific activist campaign currently targeting Maersk. The campaign is spreading inaccurate allegations and has in some instances involved assumptions presented as documented facts and what looks like misleading information through twisting of publicly available data. Unfortunately, we have also experienced vandalism and illegal, aggressive demonstrations on our premises and against our employees. This will not change our position or our business practice, guided by international standards.

Like so many others, we hope for progress in the peace process. We are convinced that there are no shortcuts to meaningful political dialogue, and we share a common belief that a politically negotiated agreement is the only viable path forward, with the responsibility naturally resting in the hands of international institutions, nations and political leaders.

We fully recognize our responsibility as a global logistics provider and that it is on us to always reinforce the internationally agreed responsible business practices – even more so when operating in areas of active conflict. We will continue to align our actions with the expectations outlined in these agreed principles and any applicable law and regulation.

Statement on transport of F-35 parts

JUNE , 2025

Maersk Line Limited (MLL), a US flag subsidiary of Maersk, is one of nearly a hundred logistics companies including e.g. trucking companies, ocean carriers, freight forwarders and airlines that all support the global F-35 supply chain with vendor-to-vendor transport services. The full F-35 supply chain is ultimately managed and controlled by the coalition of partner countries. The F-35 program relies on a complex network of international partners and suppliers across multiple countries, all contributing to the production and sustainment of the aircraft. MLL, acting as a transportation provider to the program, provides port-to-port transportation services for many of the international partners involved in this program. Suppliers from 10 countries contribute parts or components that are used in the manufacture and production process for F-35 aircraft. As part of the coalition-building of the F-35, MLL regularly transports parts between participating countries, including Israel, where F-35 wings are manufactured. In addition to the US, 16 countries are currently participating in the F-35 programme under the US Security Cooperative Participant program, including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Australia, Turkey, Norway, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Poland, Israel, Switzerland, Belgium, South Korea, Finland, and Singapore.

Maersk remains committed to respecting international standards for responsible business conduct, including the UN Guiding Principles and OECD guidelines, covering all our business including the transport services MLL provide to the global F-35 supply chain program.

Statement on transports related to the Israeli settlements

JUNE , 2025

Maersk follows international standards for responsible business practices, including the UN Guiding Principles and the OECD guidelines, and at the same time respects local law and regulation. Since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began, and as it has escalated, we have strengthened our screening and compliance measures. Re-assessing our processes is an ongoing priority, and we do so in dialogue with relevant stakeholders. If we identify or become aware of business procedures that conflict with our policies, we respond promptly — by halting the practice, modifying the procedure, or taking other corrective action to align with our commitment to international standards. Following a recent review of transports related to the West Bank, we further strengthened our screening procedures in relation to Israeli settlements, including aligning our screening process with reference to UN standards. We will continue to review our actions to align with the internationally agreed standards for responsible business practices and any applicable law and regulation.

Comment on report issued by UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese

JULY, 2025

In her report, “From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide”, UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese, raises numerous accusations against a broad range of private and public actors from different sectors and parts of the world. The report appears to be based not on an independent investigation, but rather on input from third-party sources that have not been validated or verified.

We disagree with many of the assertions made by the UN Special Rapporteur and believe that the tactics underpinning the report and this one-sided intervention risks the overall goal of ensuring engagement with the business community in progressing the shared understanding and embedding of the UN Guiding Principles as a core element of responsible business conduct.

Maersk remains committed to following international standards for responsible business conduct and adheres to local laws and regulations. We continuously review our implementation of such standards, with a view to conducting business responsibly. Throughout the conflict we have ensured compliance with regulations and respect for international standards. Specifically:

• From the outset of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, we have maintained a strict policy of not shipping weapons or ammunition to Israel.
• As the conflict escalated, we have further strengthened our screening and acceptance procedures and implemented additional compliance measures.
• Regarding settlements, we have strengthened our screening procedures, with reference to international standards.

Our compliance processes for military-related cargo are based on EU, US, and Danish laws including the Wassenaar Arrangement, the EUs common military list and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations as well as UN resolutions.