The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), based in Geneva, has achieved a significant milestone, enhancing its total container capacity to over 7.2 million TEU and reinforcing its status as the world’s leading carrier with a 21.4% market share of the global fleet, as reported by Alphaliner. Currently, MSC operates 980 active vessels, nearing the milestone of 1,000 ships, with 727 owned vessels accounting for 4.55 million TEU and 253 chartered ships adding 2.65 million TEU. Additionally, MSC maintains an orderbook of 2.18 million TEU, placing it in the top tier for orderbook-to-existing-fleet ratios among major carriers.
This achievement follows MSC’s rise to prominence after surpassing A.P. Moller-Maersk in January 2022. Initially, MSC’s fleet had the capacity to carry 4,284,728 TEU, narrowly overtaking Maersk. By 2024, MSC broadened this lead, becoming the first carrier to exceed a 20% market share, a record previously held by Maersk in 2018.
Despite losing the capacity crown, Maersk retains a competitive edge in vessel ownership, operating 42% of its ships as chartered, compared to MSC’s 65%. Under the leadership of Soren Toft since 2020—previously of Maersk—MSC continues to innovate amid significant industry changes, including soaring ocean freight rates following the pandemic.
