The carrier alliance structure continues to be shaken up for 2025, with the world’s largest carrier announcing a surprise new vessel sharing agreement on Asia-European services recently.
February is the pivotal point for the reshuffle, when Maersk and MSC are officially splitting from their exclusive arrangement in the 2M alliance, which will be disbanded.
The world’s largest carrier – MSC – had been widely understood to be operating independently from next year, which is largely still the case. However, it has now revealed a vessel-sharing agreement (VSA) with THE Alliance (THEA), to cover nine Asia-Europe services.
The news will undoubtedly be well received by THEA network partners, following Hapag Lloyd’s surprise announcement that it was leaving the alliance and joining Maersk in the newly formed Gemini Cooperation.
All eyes were fixed on the remaining members – Ocean Network Express (ONE), HMM and Yang Ming – with many wondering how their partnership would cope with the loss of its largest member.
The carrier alliance structure currently looks like this for 2025:
INDEPENDENT– MSC
(*VSA with THE Alliance for Asia-Europe).
GEMINI COOPERATION – Maersk, Hapag Lloyd.
OCEAN ALLIANCE – CMA CGM, OOCL, Cosco, Evergreen.
THE ALLIANCE (THEA) – ONE, Yang Ming, HMM.
(*VSA with MSC for Asia-Europe).
While we are getting very close to February, this may not be the final end to the story. The team at Killick Martin are monitoring developments with great interest.
