Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has widened its lead over rival A.P. Møller–Maersk, achieving a record 21.5 per cent share of global container fleet capacity in May.
No container shipping line has previously reached such a level of market dominance. The closest any company came to this was Maersk in 2018, when the Danish carrier held a 19.3 per cent share of the global market.
The Geneva-based MSC has continued to strengthen its position following rapid fleet expansion since 2020. Its steady growth has elevated it to the top of the global container shipping sector.
MSC is the only operator among the world’s ten largest container lines to achieve a record market share so far this year. The company has effectively doubled its share of global capacity compared with 2010, underscoring the scale of its expansion strategy.
In contrast, Maersk’s share of global container fleet capacity has declined significantly. The group accounted for just 13.7 per cent of the global fleet in May, marking its lowest level in two decades.
This represents the smallest share since 2005, when Maersk acquired P&O Nedlloyd in a deal that cemented its position as the industry’s largest player at the time.
Maersk’s shrinking share is primarily due to its strategic decision to cap its fleet capacity between 4.1 million and 4.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) from early 2024. While the overall global container fleet has continued to grow, Maersk has opted not to expand in line with the wider market.
Maersk has said its strategy reflects a shift in priorities, with a focus on renewing its fleet with lower-emission vessels and developing integrated logistics services.
Elsewhere in the sector, France-based CMA CGM maintained a stable position. The shipping line accounted for 12.5 per cent of global container fleet capacity in May, only slightly below its peak share of 12.9 per cent recorded in 2023.
The latest data highlights a growing divergence in strategy among the top container lines, with MSC pursuing aggressive capacity growth while competitors such as Maersk focus on consolidation and sustainability initiatives.
