ContainersEurope

Podium switch? CMA CGM tipped to edge past Maersk in the liner rankings

China’s Yangzijiang Shipbuilding is being tipped as the winner for the next round of ship orders from Maersk and CMA CGM, contracts that in turn could see the French liner jump ahead of its Danish rival into second spot in the liner rankings.

Both companies are lining up methanol-fuelled boxship orders with Alphaliner reporting Yangzijiang is likely to win all the orders.

Maersk is after eight firm 8,000 teu methanol dual-fuel ships in a contract that comes with options for four more with a letter of intent rumoured to have already been signed with the Chinese yard. The ships are costing $115m each and will deliver from late 2025 into 2026.

Meanwhile, CMA CGM is closing in on another order for 10 megamax containerships of 24,000 teu. The new vessels would likely feature methanol dual-fuel propulsion, according to Alphaliner, with Yangzijiang the frontrunner for the orders.

“The rumoured orders would see CMA CGM’s newbuilding pipeline jump from 0.91m teu to 1.15 m teu, which could potentially see the carrier move past Maersk to become the global number two,” Alphaliner noted in its most recent weekly report.

Maersk was the world’s largest container carrier for 25 years through to the start of 2021, when Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) surpassed it, with MSC since zooming ahead of all rivals, this month celebrating becoming the first carrier in the world to operate a 5m slot fleet.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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