CMA CGM Overtakes Maersk to Become Second Largest Liner

A CMA CGM container ship
Corporate News Shipping
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Updated Published

CMA CGM, the most aggressive ship acquirer of the year so far, has reached a significant milestone in the container shipping industry.

As of this week, the Marseille-based shipping giant has overtaken Maersk to claim the second position in global liner rankings when factoring in its massive order book.

According to the latest data from Alphaliner, CMA CGM’s fleet—including vessels on order—now totals 5.42 million TEU, surpassing Maersk by approximately 140,000 TEU. However, Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) remains the clear leader, with a fleet (including orders) of 8.47 million TEU—a figure larger than the current fleets of both CMA CGM and Maersk combined.

CMA CGM’s Expansion Strategy

CMA CGM has been the biggest buyer of secondhand containerships in early 2025, while also placing significant new orders.

Just this week, Splash reported on CMA CGM’s latest newbuild order in China, securing 12 LNG dual-fuel 18,000 TEU vessels at CSSC Jiangnan Shipyard. This follows another $2.6 billion deal for 12 more LNG dual-fuel 18,000 TEU newbuilds at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea earlier this year.

A Legacy of Growth

CMA CGM traces its origins back to 1978, when Jacques Saadé founded Compagnie Maritime d’Affrètement (CMA) as an intra-Mediterranean shipping operator. In 1996, he merged CMA with Compagnie Générale Maritime (CGM), forming what was then the 12th largest liner in the world.

Over the years, Saadé expanded the company by acquiring major shipping brands such as Australian National Line (ANL), American President Lines (APL), and Cheng Lie Navigation. Following Saadé’s passing in 2018, his son Rodolphe Saadé took over leadership, driving CMA CGM’s aggressive expansion through logistics acquisitions and fleet investments.

Maersk’s Strategic Shift

Meanwhile, Maersk has remained committed to maintaining its fleet size within the 4 million to 4.4 million TEU range—a policy first introduced by former CEO Søren Skou and continued under current CEO Vincent Clerc. This approach allowed MSC to surpass Maersk as the world’s largest carrier in early 2021.

Shifts in the Global Liner Rankings

Beyond the battle for the top spots, there have been notable ranking shifts lower down the Alphaliner charts:

  • Evergreen (Taiwan) has overtaken Ocean Network Express (ONE) of Japan to claim the sixth position in the global rankings.
  • Wan Hai (Taiwan) has entered the top 10, pushing compatriot Yang Ming out of the rankings.

As CMA CGM continues its rapid fleet expansion, the global container shipping landscape is evolving, with major carriers adjusting their strategies to compete in an increasingly consolidated industry.