MSC to Top Maersk?

If Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) maintains its lead over Maersk Line for containerised US imports in December, 2014, it is anticipated that the shipping line will surpass the Danish world-leader and become the largest container carrier for US imports.

According to the India Gazette, MSC is already the largest carrier of US containerised exports and the largest overall carrier in the American market.

If MSC is successful, this would be the first time that Maersk has been knocked off the top spot in over a decade.

MSC carried 1.88 million TEU throughout November, 2014 into the US, while Maersk Line's US import total was 1.83 million.

MSC's lead is likely to continue through to 2015 as Maersk plans to reduce capacity by 10% in the earlier part of that year in the Transpacific.

MSC and Maersk recently set out their 2M vessel-sharing agreement which aims to increase operational efficiency and profitability for both shipping lines.

By the end of 2016, they will jointly operate 47 vessels of 15,500-19,200 TEU, the largest container ships in the world.

Maersk is currently the largest container line in the world, with a total combined TEU-capacity of 2.8 million, followed by MSC with a combined TEU-capacity of 2.3 million.

MSC to Top Maersk? (Source: gCaptain)