AP-Moller-Maersk chief executive Soren Skou says container shipping markets have their strongest fundamentals since the 2008 financial crisis.

Improving demand in Brazil and Russia, and the smallest orderbook as a percentage of the fleet, have contributed to the most positive prognosis for the container shipping market in years, he believes.

Skou made the comments as Maersk Line reported a profit of $339m for the second quarter of the year, ending a streak of four consecutive loss-making quarters.