Denmark’s AP Moller-Maersk, operator of the world’s biggest container ship fleet, could be facing its first full-year loss in its 105-year history after its Maersk Line container shipping business lost $555m in the first quarter.

The losses for the line – one of many operators to have announced first-quarter losses – helped to push the group into a net loss for the first quarter of $373m on $11bn turnover, against a net profit of $1.05bn on $14.4bn turnover for the same period last year.