Largest Shipping Companies (2026)

MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) operates 1024 container ships with a combined capacity of 7,487,532 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 21.5% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 4,807,133 TEU on 773 ships is owned and 2,680,399 TEU on 251 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 35.8% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 3,377,390 TEU on 182 ships equals 45% of its current capacity. Its capacity is about 59% larger than that of second-placed Maersk, and it also has the largest orderbook in absolute terms. MSC does not appear in the Forbes Global 2000 ranking of listed companies, so no comparable financial figures are given here.

Maersk operates 745 container ships with a combined capacity of 4,710,206 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 13.5% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 2,943,996 TEU on 359 ships is owned and 1,766,210 TEU on 386 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 37.5% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 1,802,522 TEU on 137 ships equals 38% of its current capacity. Its parent, A.P. Møller-Mærsk, reports Ocean, Logistics and Services, and Terminals segments; Forbes records that it was founded by Arnold Peter Møller and Peter Mærsk Møller on 16 April 1904 and is headquartered in Copenhagen. Forbes lists sales of US$53.6bn and profit of US$1.6bn, down from US$6.1bn in the prior-year column. Maersk is the only one of the top three carriers that appears in the Forbes Global 2000.

CMA CGM operates 726 container ships with a combined capacity of 4,478,516 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 12.9% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 3,015,731 TEU on 388 ships is owned and 1,462,785 TEU on 338 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 32.7% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 1,682,676 TEU on 164 ships equals 38% of its current capacity. Alphaliner's consolidated CMA CGM figure includes APL, ANL, CNC, CoMaNav, Feeder Associate System, MacAndrews, Mercosul Line and SoFraNa. The group does not appear in the Forbes Global 2000 ranking of listed companies. Its capacity is within 5% of Maersk's, so the two could change places as their orderbooks are delivered.

COSCO Shipping operates 568 container ships with a combined capacity of 3,702,476 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 10.6% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 2,226,498 TEU on 211 ships is owned and 1,475,978 TEU on 357 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 39.9% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 1,873,938 TEU on 155 ships equals 51% of its current capacity. COSCO Shipping Holdings, the listed company, runs container shipping and terminal businesses and was founded on 3 March 2005, according to Forbes, which records sales of US$30.5bn and profit of US$4.3bn. Alphaliner's group total includes OOCL, Shanghai Pan Asia Shipping, New Golden Sea Shipping, Coheung and Diamond Line. Its orderbook equals about half of its current fleet, the highest ratio among the top five.

Hapag-Lloyd operates 291 container ships with a combined capacity of 2,413,056 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 6.9% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 1,448,595 TEU on 133 ships is owned and 964,461 TEU on 158 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 40% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 489,224 TEU on 62 ships equals 20% of its current capacity. Alphaliner's figure for Hapag-Lloyd includes NileDutch and DAL and integrates the former UASC fleet. Hapag-Lloyd has the smallest orderbook relative to fleet size among the top seven, about 20%, meaning its share could fall as rivals take delivery of new ships.

ONE (Ocean Network Express) operates 273 container ships with a combined capacity of 2,214,885 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 6.4% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 1,073,952 TEU on 114 ships is owned and 1,140,933 TEU on 159 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 51.5% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 647,000 TEU on 55 ships equals 29% of its current capacity. ONE charters in more of its fleet than any other carrier in the top six: 51.5% of its capacity is chartered. Its orderbook of 647,000 TEU is the sixth-largest in the ranking.

Evergreen Line operates 245 container ships with a combined capacity of 2,073,819 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 6% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 1,529,195 TEU on 172 ships is owned and 544,624 TEU on 73 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 26.3% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 818,792 TEU on 73 ships equals 39% of its current capacity. Evergreen Marine Corp. (Taiwan) provides container services, slot charters, container terminals and related services; Forbes records it was founded by Chang Yung-Fa on 25 September 1968 and is headquartered in Taipei. Forbes lists sales of US$11.5bn and profit of US$1.6bn. Alphaliner's group figure includes Evergreen Line and Italia Marittima. Evergreen owns almost three-quarters of its capacity, the highest owned share among the top seven.

HMM operates 97 container ships with a combined capacity of 1,034,348 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 3% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 847,404 TEU on 72 ships is owned and 186,944 TEU on 25 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 18.1% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 327,986 TEU on 44 ships equals 32% of its current capacity. HMM provides container services and also bulk shipping, including crude tankers and project cargo; Forbes lists its headquarters as Busan and records its founding on 25 March 1976. Forbes records sales of US$7.5bn and profit of US$1.0bn, against US$2.7bn in the prior-year column. Its capacity is about half Evergreen's, a large gap between seventh and eighth place.

Yang Ming operates 99 container ships with a combined capacity of 771,280 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 2.2% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 397,896 TEU on 64 ships is owned and 373,384 TEU on 35 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 48.4% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 256,660 TEU on 20 ships equals 33% of its current capacity. Yang Ming is the second Taiwanese carrier in the ranking after Evergreen, and with Wan Hai, Taiwan accounts for three of the top eleven operators. Almost half of its capacity is chartered.

ZIM operates 113 container ships with a combined capacity of 698,193 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 2% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 92,934 TEU on 15 ships is owned and 605,259 TEU on 98 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 86.7% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 245,216 TEU on 32 ships equals 35% of its current capacity. Alphaliner's ZIM figure includes Gold Star Line. ZIM charters 86.7% of its capacity, the highest chartered share in the top ten, and owns ships totalling only 92,934 TEU. This asset-light model lets it adjust capacity as charters expire but exposes it to charter rates.

Wan Hai Lines operates 124 container ships with a combined capacity of 627,456 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 1.8% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 627,456 TEU on 124 ships is owned and 0 TEU on 0 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 0% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 495,800 TEU on 48 ships equals 79% of its current capacity. Wan Hai owns all of its fleet, with no chartered ships in the Alphaliner count. Its orderbook of 495,800 TEU is equal to 79% of its current capacity, the highest ratio among the top eleven, so its position could rise as ships are delivered.

PIL (Pacific International Lines) operates 101 container ships with a combined capacity of 470,419 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 1.4% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 351,001 TEU on 85 ships is owned and 119,418 TEU on 16 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 25.4% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 315,598 TEU on 36 ships equals 67% of its current capacity. Alphaliner's figure for PIL includes Advance Container Line and Mariana Express Lines. Its orderbook equals about two-thirds of its existing fleet.

X-Press Feeders operates 108 container ships with a combined capacity of 199,237 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 0.6% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 119,194 TEU on 58 ships is owned and 80,043 TEU on 50 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 40.2% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 94,800 TEU on 23 ships equals 48% of its current capacity. X-Press Feeders Group, which Alphaliner consolidates with Sea Consortium and X-Press Container Line, is the largest feeder operator in the ranking: its ships are small on average, about 1,800 TEU, because it moves containers between hub ports and smaller ports for the large carriers.

SITC operates 122 container ships with a combined capacity of 188,393 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 0.5% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 161,612 TEU on 97 ships is owned and 26,781 TEU on 25 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 14.2% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 66,232 TEU on 37 ships equals 35% of its current capacity. SITC International Holdings provides container shipping and logistics and dry-bulk vessel leasing; Forbes records it was founded in May 1991 and is headquartered in Hong Kong. Forbes lists sales of US$3.4bn and profit of US$1.2bn, a margin of about 36%. Its 122 ships average about 1,500 TEU.

KMTC operates 67 container ships with a combined capacity of 172,576 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 0.5% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 103,421 TEU on 31 ships is owned and 69,155 TEU on 36 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 40.1% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 83,256 TEU on 16 ships equals 48% of its current capacity. KMTC is the second South Korean operator in the ranking after HMM, and is followed by Sinokor in nineteenth place.

Global Feeder Shipping operates 57 container ships with a combined capacity of 147,560 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 0.4% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 67,863 TEU on 26 ships is owned and 79,697 TEU on 31 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 54% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 11,152 TEU on 3 ships equals 8% of its current capacity. Global Feeder Shipping is one of three operators from the United Arab Emirates in the top 25, with DP World and Emirates Shipping Line. Its orderbook is small, at under 8% of its fleet.

DP World operates 84 container ships with a combined capacity of 145,991 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 0.4% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 35,593 TEU on 11 ships is owned and 110,398 TEU on 73 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 75.6% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 84,841 TEU on 17 ships equals 58% of its current capacity. Three-quarters of the capacity DP World operates is chartered, and its orderbook equals 58% of its current fleet.

IRISL operates 27 container ships with a combined capacity of 140,184 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 0.4% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 140,184 TEU on 27 ships is owned and 0 TEU on 0 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 0% of its fleet. Alphaliner shows no ships on order. Alphaliner's IRISL figure includes HDS Lines, Valfajre Eight Shipping and Khazar Shipping. It owns its entire fleet and has no ships on order. Its 27 ships average about 5,200 TEU, larger than most operators of similar total capacity.

Sinokor operates 69 container ships with a combined capacity of 132,526 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 0.4% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 130,741 TEU on 68 ships is owned and 1,785 TEU on 1 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 1.3% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 52,000 TEU on 4 ships equals 39% of its current capacity. Alphaliner's Sinokor figure includes Heung-A Line and Hansung Line. Almost all of its fleet is owned: only one ship is chartered in.

TS Lines operates 46 container ships with a combined capacity of 129,100 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 0.4% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 103,105 TEU on 37 ships is owned and 25,995 TEU on 9 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 20.1% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 90,484 TEU on 18 ships equals 70% of its current capacity. TS Lines' orderbook equals about 70% of its current capacity, among the highest ratios in the ranking.

Emirates Shipping Line operates 27 container ships with a combined capacity of 125,984 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 0.4% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 0 TEU on 0 ships is owned and 125,984 TEU on 27 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 100% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 57,310 TEU on 7 ships equals 45% of its current capacity. Emirates Shipping Line owns none of its ships: all 27 are chartered. That makes it the only operator in the top 25 with a fully chartered fleet.

China United Lines operates 47 container ships with a combined capacity of 105,397 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 0.3% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 18,120 TEU on 10 ships is owned and 87,277 TEU on 37 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 82.8% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 91,693 TEU on 18 ships equals 87% of its current capacity. China United Lines (CULines) charters 82.8% of its capacity, and its orderbook equals 87% of its current fleet.

RCL (Regional Container Line) operates 36 container ships with a combined capacity of 103,385 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 0.3% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 89,787 TEU on 28 ships is owned and 13,598 TEU on 8 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 13.2% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 173,466 TEU on 34 ships equals 168% of its current capacity. RCL has the largest orderbook relative to its fleet of any company in the top 25: 173,466 TEU on 34 ships, equal to 168% of its existing capacity. If delivered, the orderbook would more than double its fleet.

Ningbo Ocean Shipping operates 87 container ships with a combined capacity of 87,563 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 0.3% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 59,550 TEU on 48 ships is owned and 28,013 TEU on 39 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 32% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 60,400 TEU on 20 ships equals 69% of its current capacity. Ningbo Ocean Shipping operates 87 ships, a large number for its capacity, giving an average of about 1,000 TEU per ship.

Interasia Lines operates 28 container ships with a combined capacity of 85,077 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), 0.2% of the world liner fleet, according to the Alphaliner Top 100. Of that capacity, 64,553 TEU on 22 ships is owned and 20,524 TEU on 6 ships is chartered in, so chartered tonnage accounts for 24.1% of its fleet. Its orderbook of 65,070 TEU on 13 ships equals 76% of its current capacity. Interasia Lines (IAL) completes the top 25; its orderbook equals about three-quarters of its current fleet.