Cosco-owned boxship company Orient Overseas International Ltd (OOIL) has posted its best-ever annual profit in "an unprecedented and extremely complicated" market.

The parent of Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) said cargo volumes and revenue were also at record levels as the sector roared back in the second half with pent-up demand as pandemic restrictions eased.

The company called operating earnings of $992m in 2020 an "impressive result".