According to the latest data compiled by the Alphaliner consultancy, Mediterranean Shipping Company has exceeded A.P. Moller-Maersk for the first time in terms of container capacity. MSC’s fleet can now carry 4,284,728 standard 20-foot containers versus 4,282,840 TEUs for Maersk.

Both carriers possess a share of 17% in a total world container market of more than 25 million TEUs. In ranking, they are followed respectively by France’s CMA CGM Group (3.2 million TEUs), COSCO (2.9 million TEUs), Hapag-Lloyd (1.7 million TEUs) and Ocean Network Express (1.5 million TEUs).

Maersk continues to have still the most capacity in terms of owned vessels at 65%. MSC has about 65% of its capacity from chartered ships whereas Maersk only has 42%.

In December, Maersk Chief Executive Officer Soren Skou affirmed that the No. 1 ranking was not important for the Copenhagen-based company, which has recently focussed investments on expanding its land-based logistics where profit margins are higher. (MSC photo)