Ocean freight data aggregator Alphaliner has reported that Mediterranean Shipping Co has surpassed its nearest rival, Maersk, in the tonnage stakes for cargo shipped on the east-west trade lane between Asia and Europe.
According to analysis by the intelligence hub, MSC deployed 1.02 million TEUs on the trade lane last month, accounting for 18% of the route’s slots.
Fierce competition on the lane has however seen CMA CGM and Evergreen record the highest capacity growth for east-west cargo, namely 147 500 and 118 700 slots respectively added to the two lines over the past 12 months.
In shipping consolidation terms, it means that OCEAN Alliance, of which Evergreen and CMA CGM are members, has overtaken the combined capacity of 2M (Maersk and MSC) on the east-west route.
MSC’s growing capacity superiority over its alliance partner seems to know no bounds after news in January that the line had ordered six 16 000-TEU newbuilds, due for delivery in 2024/5.
Prior to that, last November it also emerged that MSC had exceeded Maersk’s capacity, after adding 411 000 TEUs through the acquisition of four used vessels.
The purchases saw MSC’s capacity increase by 10.7% to 4 266 805 TEUs – excluding the latest east-west tonnage that saw the carrier surpass Maersk.
