219-year-old Liverpool business Bibby Line Group reports significant falls in revenues and profits amid lower use of its support vessels and construction market ‘challenges’. Tony McDonough reports
Bibby Line Group (BLG) is reporting falls annual revenues and profits but says its £40m-plus capital investment is the highest figure for “several years”.
One of Liverpool’s oldest businesses, BLG was established as a shipping company in Liverpool in 1807. Based at Exchange Flags in the city centre it is now a diverse International business.
Still owned by the Bibby family, it employs around 1,300 in multiple countries across three divisions – Bibby Marine, Bibby Financial Services and Garic – the group’s infrastructure business.
Its latest financial results for the 12 months to December 31, 2025, reveal a 5% fall in revenues to £255m with pre-tax profits almost halving to £6.7m from £12.8m in the previous year.
BLG says during the year there was lower utilisation of the offshore support and accommodation vessels at its Bibby Marine division following the completion of major charters and “continued challenges” in the construction market affecting Garic.
However, the firm said it was continuing to invest in the businesses despite a more “challenging economic backdrop. Capital expenditure for the group exceeded £40m, the highest level for several years.
Investment was focused on assets, technology, infrastructure, people and capabilities to strengthen the businesses and support long-term growth.
Bibby Financial services is benefiting from investment into its process transformation programme while Bibby Marine retains a “strong forward pipeline”. Its new zero-emission offshore support vessel is on track for delivery in 2027.
And BLG also completed the £55m buy-in of the company pension scheme with Pension Insurance Corporation plc. The transaction reduces long-term financial risk for the group and strengthens the security of pension benefits for current and former employees.
It continued to make progress through Compass, the Group’s framework for creating long-term value for customers, colleagues, communities and the environment.
Over the past year, colleagues contributed more than 1,100 volunteering days and helped raise more than £132,000 for good causes. The group also achieved a 9.6% reduction in carbon emissions.
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Jonathan Lewis, chief executive of BLG, said: “Delivering another year of profit in challenging market conditions is testament to the commitment, expertise and values of colleagues across the group.
“While 2025 presented a more challenging trading environment, we have confidence in our businesses and are continuing to invest in them, our people and our capabilities to create long-term value for our customers, colleagues and shareholders.”