The global container shipping companies may have earned a respite from declining profitability in 4Q 2018. Global container volume growth was robust with China’s mainland ports handling up 3.3% year over year while U.S. port handling rose 6.2%. Average container shipping rates out of China climbed 9.3% after three straight quarters of declines. A collapse in fuel prices in 4Q mean the gross profit margin per container likely rose by 7.0% providing an encouraging sign of pricing discipline among the shipping firms. Analysts’ estimates factor in a stabilization in EBITDA margins for the...