The world's top two container lines are preparing to go separate ways next year. Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) now boasts a fleet exceeding 6 million TEU, commanding a 20% share of the globally operated container fleet. In contrast, Maersk, which held the title of the largest liner in the world until early 2022, is witnessing a significant erosion in its market share as it adheres to a fleet size cap policy introduced under former CEO Soren Skou.

According to Alphaliner, Maersk's global market share stands at 14.4%. The Company also notes that five of the top 10 carriers have order books that are more significant than those of the Danish liner. Despite this, Maersk has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining its fleet size cap policy throughout the decade.  "As we look ahead, our focus remains on leveraging organic growth while exploring opportunities for value-accretive acquisitions, particularly in logistics," commented Vincent Clerc, who succeeded Skou as CEO at the start of last year.