Finnish bulker company ESL Shipping has maintained a healthy level of profitability despite record-low bulker markets.

The Aspo-owned outfit said operating earnings were EUR 4.5m ($5.07m) in the fourth quarter, down from EUR 5.2m in 2014.

Its 14 ships brought in lower revenue of EUR 19.9m, against EUR 23.2m the year before.

"The historically poor market situation emphasises the shipping company's profit-making ability," it said.

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