Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has achieved a historic milestone in the global maritime industry by reaching approximately 20% of global container transport capacity. With a fleet exceeding 6 million TEUs, the company has consolidated its position as the world's largest container shipowner and significantly widened the gap relative to its main competitors.
Data released by specialized consultancy Alphaliner shows that MSC has maintained world leadership in the segment since 2022. By the end of 2025, the company was already operating an advantage close to 2.5 million TEUs over the second-placed Maersk, consolidating one of the largest differentials ever recorded among major global operators.
The company's accelerated growth has been driven mainly by the acquisition of new vessels and continuous fleet expansion. In 2025 alone, MSC accounted for approximately 39% of all capacity added by the 12 largest container shipping companies in the world, incorporating more than 830,000 TEUs to its operations.
Surveys by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development indicate that MSC's share of the global fleet has nearly doubled over the past two decades. In 2006, the company concentrated about 9% of global capacity. In 2024, this percentage already approached 19%, culminating now in the historic mark of 20%.
The shipowner's advance occurs in a scenario of strong concentration of international maritime transport. Currently, few business groups and global alliances control more than 80% of global container transport capacity. Among them are the Ocean Alliance, the THE Alliance and the Gemini Cooperation, an operational partnership formed by MSC and Maersk following the reformulation of alliances in the sector.
Impacts for Brazil
MSC's growing leadership has direct implications for Brazilian ports and national foreign trade. The company operates regular services connecting major Brazilian terminals, such as Santos Port, Paranaguá Port and ports of the North Arc to major consumer markets in Europe, Asia and North America.
Experts assess that increased concentration may amplify the influence of major shipowners over cargo space availability on vessels, the definition of port calls and global commercial strategies. For Brazilian exporters of agricultural commodities, industrialized products and higher value-added cargo, the fleet and network decisions adopted by MSC will have an even more relevant impact on international logistics.
At the same time, MSC's aggressive expansion strategy contrasts with the more conservative stance adopted by competitors such as Maersk, which has prioritized operational efficiency and logistics integration instead of rapidly expanding its fleet. This movement is expected to continue influencing the competitive dynamics of the sector in the coming years.
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