Disclosure
The balance of power in global shipping is about to change. The French CMA CGM advances with an aggressive fleet expansion strategy and should surpass the Danish AP Moller – Maersk in operational container capacity until 2027, taking second place among the largest shipping companies in the world.
Absolute leadership remains with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)which currently ranks first globally in capacity. However, the dispute for second place gained strength after CMA CGM accelerated orders for new ships and expanded its participation in the international market.
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According to market analyses, the French company has a portfolio of new ships that should quickly reduce the gap with Maersk. Recent data indicates that CMA CGM operates around 4.4 million TEUs of capacity, while the Danish company is close to 4.7 million TEUs, a gap that could be eliminated with the new deliveries planned.
The race between the giants reveals two distinct visions for the future of navigation.
While Maersk directed part of its strategy to consolidate itself as a global logistics integrator, reducing the focus on accelerated growth of the maritime fleet, CMA CGM maintained a policy of expanding ocean capacity, combining maritime transport, port terminals and land logistics operations.
The French company has also been investing in larger vessels and technologies with lower carbon emissions, including ships powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas). One example is the entry into operation of new large-capacity container ships, reinforcing its fleet renewal strategy.
The rise of CMA CGM is the result of a continuous expansion that began more than a decade ago. The company has significantly increased its fleet through the construction of new ships and strategic acquisitions, including regional companies and operations that have expanded its global presence.
In 2009, the company surpassed the 1 million TEUs mark; years later, it reached more than 4 million TEUs of operational capacity, consolidating itself as one of the main forces in international maritime transport.
The possible change in the world ranking of shipping companies will have direct impacts on ports, terminals and global logistics chains.
Greater capacity means greater competition for market share, new maritime services, pressure on freight rates and the need for port infrastructure prepared to receive increasingly larger ships.
For Brazilian terminals, including the main container hubs, the movement could represent opportunities for new scales and increased competition among shipowners seeking to expand their presence on international routes.
If the prediction is confirmed, 2027 will mark one of the biggest changes in the ranking of shipping companies in recent decades: the loss of second place by Maersk and the consolidation of CMA CGM as the new French ocean power.
The dispute shows that, in global shipping, size still matters — and the battle for millions of TEUs is far from over.