The Ocean Alliance — composed of members CMA CGM, COSCO Container Lines, Evergreen Line, and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) —maintained the highest capacity market share for both the Asia-North America West Coast (Asia-NAWC) and Asia-North Europe (Asia-NEUR) lane between April 2017 and November 2024, according to a new analysis by Sea-Intelligence.

The Danish maritime data analysis firm noted that capacity market share is an "interesting metric" to see the extent of the presence of a carrier alliance in any given trade.

 [Source: Sea-Intelligence]

"On Asia-NAWC, Ocean Alliance has by far been the most dominant carrier alliance in terms of deployed capacity, with 2M on the other end," said Alan Murphy, CEO of Sea-Intelligence.

"Furthermore, throughout the life cycle of the existing structure, there has hardly been any movement indicating a change in market dynamics," he added.

2M Alliance has been operated by MSC and Maersk since 2015, but after nearly eight years, it will be reorganised in February 2025. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will form Gemini Cooperation, and MSC will opt to operate independently but with new strategic partnerships on certain trade lanes.

[Source: Sea-Intelligence]

Meanwhile, Sea-Intelligence noted that THE Alliance — between Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, HMM, and Yang Ming — has, in recent months, captured more capacity market share and is closing in on Ocean Alliance. 

On Asia-NEUR, Ocean Alliance overtook 2M by the end of 2018 as they increased their capacity market share.

"Since then, Ocean Alliance has maintained the highest capacity market share, with 2M close by," Murphy said.

"THE Alliance, on the other hand, has a clearly different market strategy, maintaining the lowest capacity market share throughout," he added.