MSC Set to Maintain Leadership Through 2026

According to the latest forecasts from analysis firm Sea-Intelligence, MSC will continue to solidify its position as the world's largest shipping carrier through 2026 by significantly expanding its fleet. Traditional methodologies tend to estimate future fleet sizes by simply adding order books to existing fleet dimensions, but this approach overlooks changes in the secondhand market transactions and shifts in the use of chartered vessels.

Sea-Intelligence recommends making more meaningful predictions by examining carriers' past fleet adjustment strategies. According to this analysis, calculations based on simple forecasting methods typically overestimate actual growth.

Companies such as MSC and ONE are expanding their fleets while simultaneously reducing existing tonnage. Forecasts for April 2026, based on current tonnage strategies and the continuation of approaches used over the past two years, indicate that MSC will strengthen its leadership position.

CMA CGM is expected to move up to the second position, while Maersk is projected to drop to third.

Hapag-Lloyd has announced its new 2030 strategy with the goal of remaining in the top five, but Sea-Intelligence warns that achieving this objective will require a shift from the approach pursued over the past two years.

Key Takeaways

1. MSC will continue to be the world's largest shipping carrier through 2026 by substantially expanding its fleet.

2. Traditional fleet size forecasting methods overlook changes in secondhand market transactions and shifts in chartered vessel usage.

3. Sea-Intelligence recommends making more accurate forecasts by examining carriers' past fleet management strategies.

4. MSC and ONE tend to expand their fleets while selling older vessels or terminating lease agreements.

5. Based on 2026 forecasts, CMA CGM will move up to second place, while Maersk will drop to third.

6. Hapag-Lloyd's goal of remaining in the top five may require changes to the strategies adopted over the past two years.

News Link: https://www.porttechnology.org/news/msc-set-to-reign-as-largest-carrier-through-2026/