Maersk's container business has been affected by a slowdown in routes between Europe and Asia, where it has cut capacity this year amid a volatile outlook for the industry. The group said earlier this month it expected global demand for seaborne containers to rise by 3.0 percent this year, which was lower than the 4.0 percent stated in the second quarter. Maersk Line is the group's main subsidiary, which holds 16 percent of the global market share. It said it expects a "modest positive result" this year after freight rates rose in the second half of the year. A.P. Moeller-Maersk more than tripled its net profit to 5.15 billion kroner (690 million euros, $ 880 million) in the third quarter, somewhat lower than what analysts had expected.