According to recent data released by Alphaliner, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company added more than one million TEUs (20-foot equivalent containers) in 2023, solidifying its status as the largest shipping line globally. At the start of 2022, MSC surpassed Maersk to become the largest shipping line worldwide. From that point on, the Geneva-based major’s leading fleet increase played a crucial part in widening the margin over second-place Maersk, which in 2023 had a fleet reduction of 112,500 TEUs, or 2.7%, according to Alphaliner figures.
Thanks to the successful delivery of 14 24,000-TEU “megamax” ships, 26 neo-panamax ships with capacities ranging from 15,250 to 16,550 TEUs, and the addition of used vessels, MSC’s capacity increased by just over a million TEUs in the last year.
Over the course of the year, the expansion allowed MSC to increase its advantage over Maersk in capacity rankings by almost 1.12 million TEUs. As of the end of 2023, MSC had 783 cellular vessels in its fleet, carrying 5.6 million TEUs. This is a notable 22% expansion, and according to Alphaliner, 122 vessels carrying 1.47 million TEUs are still on order.
According to Alphaliner statistics, the cellular container fleet has 5,977 ships with a capacity of 28.13 million TEUs as of January 1. This represents a net increase of 271 ships and 2.14 million TEUs, or 8.2%, from the previous year.