Gap widens between MSC and Maersk

The gap is growing between MSC and Maersk in terms of size, as MSC now has a share of 20% of the global container fleet, according to Alphaliner.

The French consultancy’s latest figures for its top 100, as of 8 August 2024, show Maersk’s share of the container fleet is 14.4%. This is in contrast to when it was the largest container ship liner in the world – overtaken by MSC in 2022. MSC’s current fleet has a capacity of 6.00M TEU, while Maersk’s fleet stands at 4.36M TEU.  

MSC’s orderbook is also considerably bigger than Maersk’s – at 1.20M TEU versus 374,966 TEU. Indeed, five top 10 liners now have orderbooks that surpass Maersk’s, including CMA CGM, COSCO, ONE and Evergreen Line.

When the 2M partnership between MSC and Maersk ceases next year, MSC will operate alone. Maersk will form the Gemini Cooperation with Hapag-Lloyd.

Alphaliner estimates Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd’s combined market share will be the same as MSC’s on its own when the Gemini Cooperation launches in February next year.

Maersk does not plan to increase its fleet size above its current capacity this decade. As well as using green methanol, the carrier also intends to order dual-fuel ships that can deploy bio-LNG.