Introduction

CMA CGM, the French shipping giant, is on track to become the second-largest ocean carrier globally, surpassing Maersk. This shift in rankings is driven by CMA CGM’s aggressive fleet expansion strategy and substantial orderbook.

Key Highlights

Aspect	CMA CGM	Maersk
Total TEU Capacity (Including Orderbook)	Exceeds Maersk by 660,000 TEUs	Lagging behind CMA CGM
Orderbook Size	1.54 million TEUs (40% of fleet)	742,000 TEUs (16% of fleet)
Fleet Expansion Strategy	Aggressive, including purchases of secondhand boxships	Moderate expansion
Future Outlook	Expected to surpass Maersk in total TEU capacity upon delivery of new orders	Growth remains steady but at a slower pace

Market Dynamics

Beyond CMA CGM and Maersk, the shipping industry is experiencing significant shifts:

• Evergreen has overtaken Ocean Network Express (ONE) in the global rankings.
• Wan Hai Lines has entered the top-10 ocean carriers, pushing Yang Ming out and surpassing ZIM.

Source of Insights

The data is derived from industry reports by Alphaliner and Container News, highlighting key market trends and projections.

Conclusion

CMA CGM’s aggressive expansion strategy is reshaping the global shipping landscape. With a significantly larger orderbook and strategic acquisitions, it is poised to become the second-largest shipping line globally, marking a major shift in industry dynamics.