MSC: Growing Capacity and Establishing its Global Dominance

In 2023, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company solidified its position as the world’s largest shipping company by adding over 1 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent containers) to its fleet, according to Alphaliner. This expansion allowed MSC to extend its lead over second-place Maersk, which saw a fleet reduction of 112,500 TEUs in the same year. By the end of 2023, MSC’s fleet consisted of 783 vessels, representing an impressive 22% growth, with 122 more vessels on order.

The end of the 2M alliance between MSC and Maersk in 2025 may signal a shift in the strategies of the two companies. While MSC focuses on rapidly expanding its fleet, Maersk is pursuing an integrator strategy and is prioritizing environmentally friendly fuel in its new ships. The total fleet expansion in 2023 accounted for 47.4% of the overall fleet growth in the industry, with the global mobile container fleet reaching 28.13 million TEUs.

In addition, other shipping companies such as CMA CGM, Ocean Network Express (ONE), ZIM, Wan Hai, and Hapag-Lloyd also experienced fleet growth in 2023, with CMA CGM on track to overtake Maersk as the world’s second-largest shipping company. Meanwhile, Evergreen, which experienced a fleet reduction, could potentially regain its position with its large order backlog, and ZIM may overtake Yang Ming in the rankings in the future due to its newbuilding programs.

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