Container fleet growth in the first half of 2026 was led by CMA CGM, according to industry analysts Alphaliner.
After many years, MSC appears to be no longer the fastest growing top-10 carrier. In the first six months of 2026, the title of ‘growth champion’ went to CMA CGM, as the French carrier added 235,500 teu slots to its fleet (+5.7%), which is more than MSC (205,000 teu).
The Marseille-based operator is well on track to overtake Maersk as the number two in liner shipping next year. In an interview with French media, Rodolphe Saadé, chairman and chief executive of CMA CGM, confirmed his intention to become the second largest carrier before the end of 2027.
With a fleet capacity of 4.39 Mteu, CMA CGM has closed the gap with Maersk (4.73 Mteu). The French operator, however, has 1.8 Mteu on order, compared to 1.2 Mteu for its Danish competitor.
The overall liner fleet grew by 2.0% in the first half of this year. Average growth for the top-10 carriers stood at 2.7%. MSC’s growth of 2.9% is slightly above that average. Last year, the Geneva-based carrier showed the strongest growth in the top-10 by adding 831,400 teu (+11.7%) in the twelve month period.
Compared to that figure, half-year growth of 205,000 teu is rather modest. It was mainly due to the delivery of eight newbuildings: the 16,169 teu MSC CLAIRE and seven smaller 10,300 – 11,480 teu vessels.
CMA CGM welcomed twelve new units to its fleet, including the LNG-powered 24,212 teu CMA CGM NOTRE DAME, the new flagship of the French container fleet. Other deliveries included the LNG-powered 23,872 teu CMA CGM GRAND PALAIS and ten methanol-powered vessels of 13,130 – 16,180 teu.
Source: Alphaliner
