Shipping container companies have played a crucial role in global trade over the years. In this blog, we highlight the top 10 shipping container companies in 2023, giving you a comprehensive overview of the industry’s biggest players who are shaping the global economy today.
In this ever-evolving industry, it’s important to stay up to date about the top shipping container companies so you can snag the best deals as quickly as possible. With some companies terminating long-term alliances, it’s easy to fall victim to uncertainty. However, most container companies have successfully implemented sure-fire methods of elevating their brand and upholding their name.
Container xChange works closely with some of these industry players. Over time, we’ve formed trusted business relationships with them so that you get 100% transparency, stability and strong customer relations from the start.
All our members go through a mandatory vetting process for optimal safety in business transactions and container operations. Many like you are already using Container xChange to deal with reliable companies to do business with. And now you can too! Try our public search below to get started!
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Top shipping companies in the world
| Top 10 shipping container companies in the world | ||||
| Rank | Company name | TEUs | Fleet capacity | Location |
| 1 | MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) | 5.3 million | 783 | Switzerland/Italy |
| 2 | Maersk | 4.1 million | 687 | Denmark |
| 3 | CMA CGM Group | 3.5 million | 628 | France |
| 4 | COSCO Shipping Lines | 2.9 million | 475 | China |
| 5 | Hapag-Lloyd | 1.8 million | 257 | Germany |
| 6 | Evergreen Marine Line | 1.69 million | 215 | Taiwan |
| 7 | ONE (Ocean Network Express) | 1.68 million | 219 | Japan |
| 8 | HMM Co Ltd | 800 thousand+ | 71 | South Korea |
| 9 | Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp | 700 thousand+ | 93 | Taiwan |
| 10 | ZIM Integrated Shipping Service Ltd | 500 thousand+ | 129 | Israel |
These companies are known for their large number of TEUs, strong alliances, and the number of trips they make yearly. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at each of these companies and discover what makes them top players in the industry.
Mediterranean Shipping Company – MSC
Founded in 1970, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is a Switzerland-based shipping company that is among the top 10 shipping companies in the world. MSC operates in over 160 countries and operates over 500 offices worldwide. With a capacity of 5.3 million TEUs, MSC is one of the main drivers within the industry because of its commitment to innovation and technology.
Maersk
Maersk, the Danish shipping container company is one of the largest and most influential players in the global shipping industry. Founded in 1904, Maersk has a long history of innovation and growth. Today the company operates a vast network of shipping services all over the world. It has a fleet capacity of 687 vessels and has over 4.1 million TEUs. Maersk is one of the top shipping companies that deals with refrigerated containers in the world.
CMA CGM
CMA CGM is a leading French shipping company that operates an elaborate network of shipping services all over the world. Founded in 1978, CMA CGM is among the most well-known shipping companies and has a fleet capacity of 628 vessels and over 3.5 million TEUs.
COSCO Shipping Lines
COSCO Shipping Lines operate a modern and efficient fleet of vessels. It has a 475 fleet capacity and 2.9 million TEUs to it’s name. COSCO Shipping Lines is dedicated to sustainability, implementing eco-friendly technologies and initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint.
Hapag – Lloyd
Hapag-Lloyd is a global leader in the container shipping industry, with a modern and efficient fleet of vessels. They operate over 257 container ships that can transport over 1.8 million TEUs of cargo. Hapag-Lloyd is committed to sustainability, using eco-friendly technologies and practices to minimize their environmental impact.
Evergreen Marine Line
Evergreen Marine Line is a Taiwan-based shipping company that was founded in 1968. With a capacity of over 1.69 million TEUs, Evergreen operates a fleet of over 215 vessels and provides services to over 400 ports worldwide. The company is known for its reliability and efficient services.
Ocean Network Express (ONE)
ONE was formed in 2017 as a result of the merger of three leading Japanese shipping companies: NYK Line, MOL, and “K” Line. ONE has a fleet of over 219 vessels and a global network of more than 140 offices in over 40 countries. Its fleet is so powerful that it can transport up to 1.68 million TEUs at a time! That’s enough to fill over 64,000 trucks!
HMM Co Ltd
Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd. (HMM) is a South Korean company that provides ocean transportation services for customers around the world. HMM was founded in 1976 and is one of the top shipping companies in South Korea with a fleet of 71 vessels that can transport over 800 thousand TEUs of cargo worldwide.
Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp
Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation is a Taiwanese shipping container company that provides ocean transportation services for customers around the world. Founded in 1972, Yang Ming has grown to become one of the largest shipping companies in Taiwan, with a fleet of 93 vessels, their ships can transport over 700 thousand TEUs of cargo worldwide.
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. is an Israeli shipping container company that provides ocean transportation services for customers around the world. Founded in 1945, ZIM has grown to become one of the largest and most successful shipping companies in the Middle East, with a global network of offices and a modern fleet of over 129 vessels. These vessels can transport up to 500 thousand TEUs of cargo, making them a reliable partner for businesses of all sizes.
Imagine doing business with these top industry players! That would be so beneficial for your company, isn’t it? Well, with Container xChange, you can already take that first step. Our network of suppliers expands to 1500+ companies in 2500+ locations around the world. All of our members go through a vetting process where we run extensive background checks. So, you can perform business operations with them without the worry of legitimacy.
Finding containers has never been this easy with our public search bar. You simply need to type in your location, and the container you require and hit search. You’ll be able to browse through 10k+ containers where you can then start negotiating deals and comparing prices.
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Discontinuation of 2M (Maersk + MSC) alliance in 2025
As of January 2023, MSC and AP Moller-Maersk issued a joint statement that the two companies had mutually agreed to terminate the 2M alliance in 2025. The 2M alliance was formed between the Danish shipping line and the Swiss-Italian shipping company in 2015. The impact of this decision sparks up an entire rebuild of present operating contracts, notably on critical east-west trades.
Vincent Clerc, CCO of AP Moller – Maersk, and Soren Toft, CEO of MSC, said jointly: “MSC and Maersk recognize that much has changed since the two companies signed the 10-year agreement in 2015. Discontinuing the 2M alliance paves the way for both companies to continue to pursue their individual strategies.”
In a separate statement from MSC, Toft states that their brand will continue to strengthen and modernize its fleet. This essentially provides them the scale needed for comprehensive, short-sea networking in the market. Toft further goes on to say that their company remains focused on delivering high-quality service to their clients. They’ll remain steadfast in the development of cargo-carrying solutions on the oceans and beyond.
Contact top shipping container companies on xChange
It can be a real hassle trying to find the perfect fit for your shipping needs. But Container xChange offers a solution that makes this process easier, faster, and more cost-effective.
Here’s a scenario for you to understand better: You run a small business that specializes in importing and exporting goods. Your company has just received a large shipment order, but you don’t have enough containers to fulfill it. You could spend hours, even days, contacting different container companies to find the right fit, but with Container xChange, you can easily search for available containers in real time and even request a quote from some top shipping container companies.
But that’s not all – review company profiles before working with them so you can be sure of who you’re trusting your hard-earned money with. We also have a secure platform that ensures all transactions are safe and reliable. You can rest assured that you’ll be working with trusted and verified companies to fulfill your shipping needs.
Get a free demo right here and see how Container xChange is the perfect digital solution you need for your logistics operations.
2023 market overview of shipping container industry
The container shipping industry saw unparalleled growth during the pandemic. However, the current year will be tough due to a difficult mix of slow demand and a rapidly expanding fleet. Maritime Strategies International (MSI) analyst Daniel Richards unpacks three important elements to look for this year within the industry:
- Trade growth
- Pace and size of fleet growth
- Challenges surrounding congestion and capacity
According to Richards, there has been overbuilding of inventory, pressure on property markets owing to interest rates, and pressure on consumers’ disposable incomes, which will ultimately result in some difficulty for the first half of 2023.
As for fleet growth, MSI predicts a 7% year-on-year increase in the fleet in 2023 and 2024 and above-average growth in 2025. If the predicted volume of scrapping somehow doesn’t occur, fleet growth might reach 10% per year.
The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly impacted supply and container shipping bottlenecks, but this is beginning to change. The large loss of capacity over the pandemic is now beginning to unravel and improve.
Container companies have already prepared for the year ahead and continue to directly contribute to the flow of supply within the industry.
Want to get a scoop of the latest industry news and market trends? Download your free copy of our monthly logistics report ‘Where Are All the Containers?’ for an in-depth roundup of global events impacting the industry, monthly trends, container availability updates, the most liquid locations and more.
Find boxes from top shipping container companies on Container xChange
Finding the shipping container you need can become a bit of a hassle. You also don’t necessarily have the means or capacity to commit to buying a container immediately, so leasing is your best bet, but where to start? How do you go about finding a trustworthy company to invest your time and hard-earned money?
Container xChange is what you’re looking for. Forget about endless phone calls and back-and-forth negotiations, simply log on and find the perfect container from trusted companies. We make it easy to compare prices and options, ensuring you get the best deal every time.
And the cherry on top? You can access the platform from the comfort of your own home. Everything is done online and all in one place, so there’s no need to hop from one site to the next. The idea here is to simplify your container operations as much as possible, that way, you’ll have more time to focus on other parts of your business to really maximize your revenue.
Reach out to one of our friendly experts to get the full rundown on how Container xChange is revolutionizing the industry, one click at a time!
Shipping container companies: Common FAQs
What is the biggest problem with container shipping companies?
Shipping container shortage. Many existing containers are tied up in ports, storage facilities and vessels worldwide. The shortage has been made worse by port congestion and rising demand.
What are the three top shipping container companies?
The top three shipping container companies are as follows: Maersk having 4.3 million TEUs, MSC also having 4.3 million TEUs and CMA CGM having 3.2 million TEUs.
Do shipping container companies offer insurance?
Shipping container companies may offer to insure your container, however, this is dependent on the company's insurance policy and which you decide to opt for.
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