A key element of this expansion is the strategic purchase of smaller ships, essential for connecting secondary ports to main hubs
Geneva – MSC is carrying out a massive campaign of fleet expansion and renewal, focusing its efforts on the acquisition of feeder ships and second-hand units. This strategy, confirmed by market data and analysis from specialists like Alphaliner, aims to further consolidate the company’s global dominance. According to the latest surveys, MSC’s “relentless” growth strategy has widened the gap with its competitors. Already in the first half of 2025, the company has added over 365,000 teu of capacity, reaching a total exceeding 6.6 million. MSC is preparing to become the first operator in the world to surpass the threshold of 7 million teu of total capacity.
A key element of this expansion is the strategic purchase of smaller ships, essential for connecting secondary ports to main hubs. It is estimated that MSC is planning the renewal of its feeder fleet with a potential maxi-order of 120 newbuilds with a capacity between 1,100 and 5,000 teu. The goal is to replace the older tonnage, whose average age is currently around 22 years, and to optimize the management of regional routes and feeder services (stand-alone network).
In parallel, MSC has continued to be the most aggressive buyer in the second-hand ship market, taking over dozens of units of various sizes, including Panamax and Post-Panamax. In May 2025 alone, acquisitions of over 10 ships were recorded, confirming the will of the group, founded by Gianluigi Aponte, to not limit itself to newbuildings but to capitalize on the second-hand tonnage market, made more accessible by the recent cooling of the charter market.
This vertical and horizontal expansion is not limited to the fleet: MSC Terminal Investment, the group’s terminal operating company, recently raised 2.5 billion dollars in a private bond placement, liquidity that will support the expansion and modernization of the 43 port terminals the company is negotiating to acquire or manage globally. MSC’s ultimate goal is to ensure control over the entire logistics chain, from mega-hubs to regional routes.
