Global container ship orders soar, led by MSC, COSCO, and CMA CGM, as operators prepare for future trade growth.
The global container ship orderbook has reached unprecedented levels, with major liner operators like MSC, COSCO Shipping Holdings, and CMA CGM leading the charge in placing newbuilding orders.
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) continues to dominate orderbooks, committing approximately USD 7 billion this year alone. MSC has placed orders for up to 32 ultra-large container ships, including 20 LNG dual-fuel vessels with capacities of 21,000-22,000 TEU, valued at USD 4.4 billion. These include 10 additional 22,000 TEU ships ordered from Hengli Heavy Industry, set for delivery in 2029, and another 10 vessels from Zhoushan Changhong International Shipyard, with deliveries planned from 2028 to 2029. Currently, MSC holds 105 of the 231 global orders for ships above 17,000 TEU, far exceeding competitors like CMA CGM (54 units) and Maersk (24 units).
COSCO Shipping Holdings recently announced orders for 18 ships, including 12 LNG dual-fuel 22,000 TEU vessels from Jiangnan Shipyard, set for delivery between 2028 and 2030. Additionally, the company has ordered six 3,200 TEU wide-beam ships from Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding, with deliveries scheduled for 2028-2029.
CMA CGM has placed an order for six 3,100 TEU container ships at China Merchants Shipping (Weihai) Shipyard. Meanwhile, Turkish shipowner Bayraktar Shipping ordered 2+2 units of 1,800 TEU ships at Qingshan Shipyard, and Peter Dohle added two 14,000 TEU neo-Panamax container ships to its orderbook.
According to Alphaliner, MSC now has 166 vessels on order, representing 39.7% of its existing capacity. CMA CGM follows closely with 164 vessels (39.9%), while Maersk has 88 ships on order (25.0%). Other operators like Hapag-Lloyd and ONE hold orderbooks amounting to 21.2% and 27.3% of their fleets, respectively.
Regional players are also making bold moves, with Thailand's Regional Container Lines (RCL) leading with an orderbook equivalent to 162.1% of its current fleet capacity. These investments reflect a broad industry effort to prepare for anticipated growth in global trade.
