Top 10 Largest Shipping Lines in 2025: Complete Overview

The global container shipping industry is dominated by a handful of major carriers that move the world's trade. Understanding these shipping lines, their strengths, and their services helps you make informed decisions when choosing a carrier for your shipments. Here's our comprehensive guide to the top 10 largest container shipping companies in 2025.

1. MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company)

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

Fleet Capacity: ~5.5 million TEU

Key Facts:

• World's largest container shipping line by capacity
• Founded in 1970 by Gianluigi Aponte
• Family-owned company, not publicly traded
• Operates over 750 vessels
• Strong presence on all major trade routes

Container Prefixes: MSCU, MEDU, GESU

2. Maersk

Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark

Fleet Capacity: ~4.3 million TEU

Key Facts:

• Part of A.P. Moller-Maersk group
• Pioneer in container shipping
• Strong focus on end-to-end logistics

Container Prefixes: MRKU, MSKU, MAEU

3. CMA CGM Group

Headquarters: Marseille, France

Fleet Capacity: ~3.4 million TEU

Key Facts:

• Includes brands: APL, ANL, CNC
• Strong presence in Africa and emerging markets

Container Prefixes: CMAU, APLU

4. COSCO Shipping

Headquarters: Shanghai, China

Fleet Capacity: ~3.0 million TEU

Key Facts:

• China's largest shipping company
• Owns OOCL

Container Prefixes: COSU, CBHU, OOLU

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Whether you're shipping with MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, or any other carrier, Ocean by Traqo provides unified tracking. Visit traqocontainer.com to track containers from all major shipping lines in one place.