The world’s top two container lines, MSC and Maersk, cooperate in the 2M alliance (the smallest of three global alliances). The leading nine global liner operators (comprising the three alliances) control 83% of the world’s capacity but only dedicate 39% to the alliances.
2M capacity
MSC has a total fleet capacity of 4.63 million TEUs but only contributes 25% (1.15 million TEUs) to 2M (Alphaliner). This is the smallest share of the nine carriers. Maersk has a total capacity of 4.23 million TEUs, with 39% in 2M (1.66M TEUs). Total 2M capacity is 2.82 million TEUs, only 11% of global capacity – a lower share than the overall combined MSC-Maersk fleets (34%).
Ocean Alliance capacity
The Ocean Alliance (CMA CGM, Cosco, and Evergreen) has 4.3M TEUs, 52% more than 2M, and 16% global fleet capacity. Its members are smaller than Maersk and MSC but deploy much of their capacity within the alliance: CMA CGM and Cosco ~50%, Evergreen ~75%.
THE Alliance Capacity
The second largest global shipping alliance is THE Alliance, a partnership between Japan’s ONE (7th largest carrier), Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd (5th), South Korea’s HMM (8th), and Taiwan’s Yang Ming (9th). Their combined capacity (3.03 million TEUs) represents 12% of global capacity; Yang Ming has 80%, HMM 78%, ONE 69%, and Hapag-Lloyd 43%.
Alphaliner believes MSC will go alone, given its order book and buying spree. Maersk told Alphaliner it would not seek to set up a new alliance but cited two possibilities: Maersk joining THE Alliance or teaming up with CMA CGM if it left the Ocean Alliance.
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/just-how-big-are-the-global-ocean-container-shipping-alliances
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