Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has solidified its position as the world’s largest ocean carrier, reaching a historic milestone with a total fleet capacity exceeding 7.2 million TEU.
The Geneva-based giant now commands a dominant 21.4% share of the global container market.
Nearing 1,000 Vessels MSC’s active fleet continues to grow rapidly, currently totaling 980 vessels.
- Owned Tonnage: 727 ships (4.55 million TEU).
- Chartered Tonnage: 253 ships (2.65 million TEU).
- Future Growth: The carrier maintains a robust orderbook of 2.18 million TEU, boasting the fourth-highest orderbook-to-fleet ratio among the top 10 liners.
MSC’s aggressive expansion since overtaking A.P. Moller-Maersk for the top spot in January 2022. At that time, the gap was a mere 1,888 TEU. Since then, MSC has pulled ahead significantly, becoming the first carrier to surpass 20% market share in 2024 breaking Maersk’s 2018 record of 19.4%.
While MSC leads in raw capacity, Maersk retains a different strategic profile. The Danish carrier, which dominated the industry for decades since entering container trade in 1975, focuses heavily on owned tonnage (58% of its fleet) and decarbonization technologies. In contrast, approximately 65% of MSC’s capacity comes from chartered vessels.