Global container shipping is increasingly dominated by a handful of major players, with the top three lines holding a significant share of the world’s capacity. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) leads the industry with the largest fleet and TEU capacity, followed closely by Maersk, a long-standing leader in global logistics. CMA CGM secures the third position, reinforcing the concentration of power among a few dominant operators. Together, these three companies control nearly half of the total global container shipping capacity. This level of concentration allows them to influence freight rates, shipping routes, and overall supply chain dynamics. Other major players such as COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, Evergreen, and HMM continue to play important roles, but the gap between the top three and the rest of the industry remains substantial. This consolidation highlights a critical reality of modern maritime trade: efficiency, scale, and network control are now the defining factors shaping the global shipping landscape.
