Maersk Line
Maersk has overtaken COSCO to become the largest operator in the fiercely competitive intra-Asia container market, the world’s largest container trade, according to the latest fleet survey from Alphaliner.
The Danish carrier had more than 340,000 teu deployed across intra-Asian services in mid-August, having added around 34,000 teu year-on-year, the largest nominal increase of any operator.
Maersk’s expansion has been driven partly by the Gemini Cooperation’s hub-and-spoke model, which relies on a larger network of Asian shuttle services feeding its main east-west loops. Its 108 ships deployed in the region averaged 3,176 teu, the largest average vessel size among the leading intra-Asia operators.
COSCO slipped into second place despite operating more ships — over 120 — as its deployed capacity remained virtually unchanged from last year.
Alphaliner calculates total capacity deployed on international intra-Asia services, excluding domestic trades, at just under 2.6m teu, up 6.2% year-on-year. More than 80 carriers compete in the market.
Mainline operators control 63% of deployed capacity despite running fewer ships than the regional specialists, largely because their vessels average 2,699 teu compared with 1,338 teu for regional carriers.
CMA CGM recorded the second-largest capacity gain, adding 15,000 teu and overtaking Evergreen for third place.
SITC remains the leading regional specialist, operating 109 ships and around 157,000 teu. It is the only regional carrier with more than 100 vessels active in intra-Asia, reflecting its strategy of connecting smaller and niche ports rather than competing purely on vessel scale.
The Drewry Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI) edged up 1% last week to $1,323 per feu. The IACI Composite Index has been at all-time highs this month as ongoing geopolitical and typhoon-related disruptions continue to ripple through supply chains and constrain available capacity.
