Maersk Says Energy Crunch to Persist Even If Iran Peace Deal Struck

By Stine Jacobsen and Jesus Calero

COPENHAGEN, May 7 (Reuters) – Shipping group Maersk MAERSKb.CO beat first-quarter profit forecasts on Thursday but warned the Iran war had pushed its fuel costs up by nearly $500 million a month and that the energy crisis would persist even if a peace deal was reached.

Shares in Maersk were down 6.5% at 1100 GMT after its results, underperforming a broadly flat Copenhagen benchmark index amid worries that high fuel prices could hit profits.

Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc said the war had added roughly 3 billion Danish crowns ($472.7 million) to the company’s monthly costs