One year after taking first place worldwide from Maersk Group, MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) has consolidated its leadership by constantly expanding its fleet. By mid-March, MSCâs fleet had reached 4.75 Mteu, compared to Maerskâs 4.19 Meu.
In February 2022, the first monthly chart with MSC at the top, MSC had just narrowly taken the lead at 4.31 Mteu over Maersk at 4.28 Mteu. This shows that MSC has not only massively expanded its fleet through charters, newbuild commissions and second-hand purchases, but also illustrates that Maersk has not expanded at all in the last twelve months.
On the contrary: Maerskâs fleet capacity has even diminished somewhat, as the carrier dumped a number of older ships. Ironically, many of these were purchased by MSC, including six of Maerskâs former âS-classâ flagships from Denmarkâs Odense Shipyard (1997 â 1999).
However, in the long term, MSCâs 1.80 Mteu order book will not add to the carrierâs current fleet capacity and will create a âmonstrousâ shipping line of 6.50 Mteu or more.
Like any other carrier, MSC is expected to phase out the older tonnage in the second half of the 2020s.
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Alphaliner believes that MSC will target a fleet size of around 5.50 to 6.00 Mteu as optimal for a global independent shipping line.
Source: Alphaliner