Shipping company Maersk reported $5.44 billion in quarterly profit, reaping the benefits

of global supply-chain strains that have pushed up ocean freight rates near record levels

Shipping company A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S is reaping the benefits of global supply strains

 thathave pushed up ocean freight ratesnear record levels and caused backlogs at U.S. 

ports. The company reported a profit of $5.44 billion for the September quarter, more t

han five times the profit it had a year ago.

Put another way, Maersk made almost as much money in three months as Amazon.com 

Inc. and United Parcel Service Inc. combined. Amazon reported a third-quarter profit of 

nearly $3.16 billion and UPS posted a profit of $2.33 billion.