Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has achieved a record-high market share in its global container fleet, accounting for more than one-fifth of the container shipping market, and continues to widen the gap with its competitors.
According to the latest report from shipping analytics firm Alphaliner, MSC’s share of global container capacity has risen to 21.5%, setting a new record high. The previous record for the highest market share held by a single carrier was 19.3%, set by Maersk in 2018.
Since 2018, the trends in the global market share of these two shipping giants have diverged significantly. Maersk currently holds the second-largest market share (13.7%), while CMA CGM ranks third with a 12.5% share.
Alphaliner commented: “MSC is steadily eroding the market share of other shipping companies and is the only carrier among the top ten this year to have reached a new market high. Since 2010, the world’s largest container shipping company has effectively doubled its market share.”
On the other hand, Maersk has adopted a radically different growth strategy. In May of this year, the shipping company’s market share fell to its lowest level in two decades. In early 2024, Maersk strictly capped its fleet capacity at approximately 4.1 million to 4.3 million TEUs and shifted its strategic focus toward becoming a comprehensive logistics service provider. In contrast, MSC has maintained an aggressive expansion pace since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020.
Among the world’s top five shipping companies, COSCO Shipping ranks fourth with a 10.6% market share, while Hapag-Lloyd ranks fifth with a 7% share.