Global sea freight concentrated in three firms
About half of global container shipping capacity is controlled by three carriers—MSC, Maersk and CMA CGM—leaving importers dependent on a small set of operators for resilience and repricing leverage. Analysts suggest European shippers adapt strategies for crisis scenarios and supplier concentration, especially as geopolitical events add volatility. (x.com)
Three carriers now account for roughly half of the world’s container carrying power: Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) at about 20.6%, A.P. Møller–Maersk at about 14.2%, and CMA CGM at about 12.3% — a combined share near 47% of global capacity according to industry fleet rankings compiled in May 2025. (container-news.com) European cargo owners are already feeling the consequences: a Maersk survey of more than 2,000 European customers found 76% experienced supply‑chain disruption in the prior 12 months and 58% said the cost impact exceeded expectations, while 53% are actively evaluating new sourcing locations and one‑third prefer locations close to or inside Europe. (maersk.com) Industry capacity measures explain how that concentration works: capacity is counted in standard 20‑foot container units (one “twenty‑foot equivalent unit” is the volume of a standard 20‑ft container), and fleet tables show MSC, Maersk and CMA CGM each hold millions of those units with large ship orderbooks — for example MSC’s fleet and pipeline together far outsize many rivals — which means these three control not only active ships but near‑term growth capacity. (alphaliner.axsmarine.com, container-news.com) Geopolitical shocks amplify the market power effect: attacks and security threats in the Red Sea since late 2023 forced major carriers to reroute many Asia–Europe sailings around the Cape of Good Hope, adding roughly 10–14 days to voyages and pushing up fuel and insurance costs, while carriers issued customer advisories and emergency surcharges to cover the extra operating expense. (eia.gov, maersk.com) Consultants and procurement specialists now recommend concrete playbook items for European shippers: build a “dual‑track” procurement mix that combines longer‑term contracted volume with an on‑call spot or index‑linked pool; run carrier‑mix optimization (systematic allocation of lanes to multiple carriers by cost and resilience metrics); and where possible secure slot‑charters (contracts that reserve specific container space, i.e., slots, on a vessel) or short‑term vessel charters to guarantee capacity during spikes — all steps that recent industry guides and procurement analyses say are being adopted across Europe. (transportmanagement.org, sifted.com, oceancargo.co.uk)
