Matson

What Matson does

Matson, Inc. (NYSE: MATX) is a Honolulu-headquartered ocean transportation and logistics company founded in 1882, operating the only major U.S.-flagged containership fleet serving Pacific island economies. The company runs a diversified fleet of containerships, combination container/roll-on/roll-off vessels, and container barges across scheduled routes connecting the U.S. West Coast to Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Micronesia, the South Pacific (New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga, Niue), Japan, and China. Its core product is the China-Long Beach Express (CLX) and Matson Asia Express (MAX) expedited trans-Pacific service, supplemented by the Alaska-Asia Express (AAX) reefer service and dedicated intermodal connections through subsidiary Matson Logistics.

Matson earns revenue primarily through transaction-based ocean freight rates across cargo types, volumes, and transit distances, with ancillary streams from vehicle shipping (starting at $1,790 per car to Hawaii), household goods containerized moving, refrigerated cargo, oversized/breakbulk handling, warehousing, and intermodal rail/highway brokerage. It sells through direct-to-consumer channels (online booking, mobile apps, 1-800-4MATSON call center with sub-6-second response), enterprise field sales to manufacturers, retailers, and the U.S. Government, and channel partnerships including BNSF Railway and the SSA Terminals joint venture (35% Matson-owned). The company is investing approximately $1 billion in three new LNG-powered Aloha Class containerships (3,600 TEU each) with deliveries between Q1 2027 and Q2 2028, and has deployed WhaleSpotter AI whale-detection technology in partnership with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. With Q1 2026 revenue of $757.8M, full-year 2025 net income of $444.8M (EPS $13.81), and a ~$6B market cap, Matson is the leading Jones Act-protected Pacific shipping franchise, returning $1.3B to shareholders through buybacks since August 2021 and increasing dividends for 14 consecutive years.

Name

Matson

Legal name

Matson, Inc.

Website

https://matson.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1882

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Matson is a Honolulu-headquartered, Jones Act-protected ocean transportation and logistics company (NYSE: MATX) operating scheduled containership services from the U.S. West Coast to Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Micronesia, the South Pacific, Japan, and China for enterprise, government, military, and consumer customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ocean Transportation Services

NAICS

Deep Sea Freight Transportation (483111), Marine Cargo Handling (488320), Water Transportation (483), Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation (4831)

SIC

Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412), Water Transportation (4400), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Terminal Cargo Handling & Yard Operations (Receiving, Staging, Delivery) (TLAHALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Finished Vehicle Ocean RoRo & Deep-Sea Vehicle Carriers (TLADAJAC), Refrigerated Ocean Shipping (Reefer Containers & Specialized Reefer Vessels) (TLADAHAD), International Vehicle Shipping & Export (RoRo/Container) (HSAKAFAJ), Port/Terminal Heavy Cargo Handling & Stevedoring (Heavy Crane Ops) (TLAIAKAD)

Keywords

• Ocean transportation
• Container shipping
• Pacific shipping
• Intermodal logistics
• Freight forwarding

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ocean Transportation: Core ocean freight shipping services providing containerized cargo, roll-on/roll-off, and specialized shipping to Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Micronesia, South Pacific, Japan, and China. Revenue generated through freight rates based on cargo type, volume, and transit distance.
2. Logistics Services: Subsidiary Matson Logistics provides intermodal transportation, highway brokerage, warehousing, and supply chain management services. Revenue from rail intermodal, truckload/LTL brokerage, warehousing, and third-party logistics services.
3. Terminal Services: Matson Terminals Inc. provides container maintenance, stevedoring, and terminal services. Joint venture SSA Terminals LLC operates terminal facilities at eight West Coast locations.
4. Vehicle Shipping: Shipping services for cars, boats, RVs, and other vehicles to Pacific destinations. Consumer-direct sales with pricing from $1,790 for car shipping to Hawaii.
5. Household Goods Shipping: Containerized moving services for personal household goods and vehicles, serving military families and individuals relocating to/from Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, and Micronesia.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Matson is a U.S.-owned ocean transportation and logistics company providing containerized shipping, roll-on/roll-off, and specialized cargo services to Pacific island economies (Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Micronesia, South Pacific, Japan) and expedited China-U.S. West Coast trade lanes. Its Matson Logistics subsidiary extends the network with rail intermodal, highway brokerage, warehousing, and supply chain services across North America. Offerings include dedicated terminal facilities, owned containers and chassis, and value-added services such as refrigerated cargo, vehicle shipping, household goods moves, and oversized/breakbulk handling.

Product overview

Matson is a U.S.-owned transportation services company offering a unified platform of ocean shipping and logistics services. The core offering is Matson Navigation Company's Pacific ocean transportation (serving Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Micronesia, South Pacific, Japan, and China routes) supplemented by premium expedited China-U.S. services (China-Long Beach Express/CLX and Matson Asia Express/MAX). The logistics arm, Matson Logistics, extends the network with intermodal rail, highway brokerage, warehousing, and supply chain services. Key products include the Alaska-Asia Express connecting Alaskan seafood exports to Asian markets, South Pacific Service for island nations, and specialized services for refrigerated cargo, vehicle transport, household goods, and oversized/breakbulk cargo. All offerings are supported by digital tools including mobile tracking apps and an online customer portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Matson Logistics: Subsidiary providing rail intermodal, highway brokerage, warehousing, freight consolidation, Asia supply chain services, and forwarding to Alaska
• Matson South Pacific Limited
• WhaleSpotter
• China – Long Beach Express (CLX)
• Matson Asia Express (MAX)
• Alaska – Asia Express (AAX)

Products and services

• Matson Navigation Company - Ocean Transportation Core ocean shipping subsidiary operating a diversified fleet of containerships, combination container/roll-on/roll-off vessels, and container barges serving Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Micronesia, South Pacific, Japan, and China routes. Serves enterprise customers, government, military, and consumer shippers requiring trans-Pacific and intra-Pacific freight.
• Matson Logistics Subsidiary providing rail intermodal, long-haul and regional highway brokerage, supply chain services, LTL transportation, warehousing, distribution, LCL consolidation, and international freight forwarding to Alaska. Targets retail, manufacturing, and distribution sectors across North America.
• China-Long Beach Express (CLX)
• Matson Asia Express (MAX)
• Alaska Service
• Alaska-Asia Express (AAX)
• South Pacific Service Shipping service from Australia and New Zealand to Pacific island nations including Fiji, Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga, and Niue, operated by Matson South Pacific Limited with freight depots in Auckland offering FCL, LCL, and breakbulk options.
• Japan Service (Okinawa)
• Domestic Intermodal Services
• Warehousing and Distribution
• Oversized and Breakbulk Cargo
• Refrigerated Container Services (Reefer)
• Vehicle Shipping
• Household Goods Shipping
• Track My Container App
• Track My Auto App
• Enhanced Intermodal Cargo Security Program Two-layer cargo security program deploying War-Lok security devices and positioning containers in the lower well of intermodal rail cars to reduce theft exposure on inland rail journeys from Los Angeles to Chicago, Memphis, and Dallas, at no additional cost to customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Industry-leading on-time vessel arrivals
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BNSF RailwaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 March 2026Strategic partnership for intermodal cargo security program beginning Q2 2026. Matson and BNSF Railway partnered with War-Lok to deploy security devices on containers and position them in lower well of intermodal rail cars to reduce theft exposure throughout inland journeys from Los Angeles to Chicago, Memphis, and Dallas.
• War-LokcoreTechnology or Integration · 2 March 2026Security technology partnership providing War-Lok devices for container tracking and protection in the intermodal cargo security program. The two-layer security program covers cargo moving from Los Angeles to BNSF network destinations at no additional cost to customers.
• WhaleSpotter (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 November 2025Partnership to commercialize WhaleSpotter whale detection technology developed by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Matson is the first container shipping company to deploy the AI-driven system using thermal imaging to detect whales and reduce ship strikes.
• SSA Terminals, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture with Carrix, Inc. providing terminal and stevedoring services at eight West Coast terminal facilities, including Long Beach, Oakland, and Tacoma for Matson operations. Matson holds 35% ownership stake.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Crowley Maritime: Privately held U.S.-flag maritime operator with significant Pacific and Jones Act presence, including container, RoRo, logistics, and terminal services. Directly comparable to Matson on Jones Act domestic shipping, terminal operations, and Alaska/Pacific service mix.
• Pasha Group (Pasha Hawaii): U.S.-flag shipping and logistics company operating Hawaii and Pacific container and RoRo services, with terminals and dedicated auto-handling capability. Closest direct competitor on Hawaii vehicle and container shipping.
• TOTE Maritime: U.S.-flag ocean carrier with Jones Act container and RoRo services, including Alaska and Puerto Rico trades. Operates a similar U.S.-built, U.S.-crewed model and competes directly for Jones Act protected freight.
• American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier (ARC): U.S.-flag RoRo and breakbulk carrier serving government and commercial customers on trans-Atlantic and Pacific routes. Directly comparable on U.S.-flag RoRo vessel operations that serve military and oversize cargo customers.

Broad incumbents

• Kirby Corporation: Largest U.S. Jones Act inland marine barge operator transporting petrochemicals, agricultural products, and dry bulk along U.S. rivers and coasts. Comparable as a Jones Act peer with overlapping institutional ownership (e.g., Fidelity stake increases cited alongside Kirby), though focused on inland rather than ocean shipping.
• Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG): Jones Act and international tanker and shipping operator. Comparable as a U.S.-flag maritime peer, though its primary focus on liquid cargo rather than containerized freight limits direct competition with Matson.
• ZIM Integrated Shipping Services: Global container carrier with notable trans-Pacific and Asia-U.S. presence. Comparable to Matson on the CLX/MAX China-to-U.S. West Coast service lane where they overlap as direct ocean container competitors.
• Hapag-Lloyd: Global container shipping line with significant trans-Pacific capacity. Comparable to Matson on the China-Long Beach Express competitive set, although Hapag-Lloyd operates a much broader global network.
• COSCO Shipping: State-owned Chinese ocean carrier with the largest trans-Pacific container capacity globally. Directly relevant as the dominant China-origin competitor to Matson's CLX/MAX expedited service offering.

Emerging players

• Wan Hai Lines: Asia-based container carrier with strong intra-Asia and Asia-U.S. service network. Comparable to Matson on China and Southeast Asia origin/destination trades, including trans-Pacific lanes served by CLX/MAX.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/matson-navigation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Matson