Several important container shipping data trends were identified and reported during February 2026 based on Alphaliner’s proprietary datasets and AIS-supported vessel tracking. These insights provide a clear snapshot of how fleet development, trade lane dynamics, and carrier strategies are evolving across the container ship sector.
From accelerating LNG adoption and continued fleet expansion by the largest carriers to shifting Suez Canal traffic patterns and record capacity deployment on the Far East–Europe corridor, the latest data points highlight structural developments shaping the market as the industry moves deeper into 2026.
LNG-Powered Container Ship Fleet Continues Expanding
The global fleet of LNG-powered container ships continued to grow following new deliveries reported in February. One of the most notable developments was the delivery of the YM WILLPOWER, a 15,600 TEU LNG dual-fuel vessel built by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan for Yang Ming.
This vessel represents a milestone for the Taiwanese carrier, which previously operated a fleet powered entirely by conventional fuels. The YM WILLPOWER is the first of five LNG-capable Neo-Panamax vessels ordered in 2023, with the remaining units scheduled for delivery through 2026 and early 2027.
Additional LNG-powered capacity has also been entering service elsewhere. Chinese builder New Times Shipyard delivered the 11,400 TEU MSC BOSTON, the penultimate vessel in a ten-ship LNG dual-fuel series for MSC. The final vessel in the series, MSC SABRINA, is expected to follow shortly.
These additions further strengthen MSC’s position as the largest operator of LNG-powered container ships. The company now operates close to 90 LNG-equipped vessels, accounting for more than one-third of all such ships currently active worldwide. CMA CGM ranks second in LNG vessel count with 76 units.
The continued growth of LNG propulsion reflects shipping companies’ efforts to reduce emissions while maintaining operational flexibility during the industry’s broader energy transition.
MSC Fleet Surpasses 7.2 Million TEU
Data reported in February also showed that MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company continued to widen its lead as the world’s largest container carrier. The Geneva-based group’s fleet capacity has now surpassed 7.2 million TEU, representing approximately 21.4 percent of the global container ship fleet.
MSC’s expansion remains supported by a large orderbook and continued acquisitions in both the newbuilding and second-hand markets. The carrier currently has 2.18 million TEU of additional capacity on order, giving it one of the highest orderbook-to-fleet ratios among the top ten container carriers.
The company’s fleet is also approaching a new numerical milestone, with 980 vessels currently in active service. Of these ships, 727 vessels representing 4.55 million TEU are owned, while 253 vessels totaling 2.65 million TEU are chartered.
This ownership structure highlights the combination of asset ownership and chartered tonnage that has enabled MSC to expand rapidly while maintaining operational flexibility.
Suez Canal Container Ship Traffic Continues to Decline
AIS-backed vessel tracking reported in February indicates that container ship traffic through the Suez Canal has yet to recover fully despite recent announcements by some carriers about returning to the route.
Both December 2025 and January 2026 recorded year-on-year declines in container ship transits. January traffic was particularly weak, with 150 crossings recorded, marking the lowest January level observed in the past decade and representing a 16.7 percent year-on-year decline.
Early data for February suggests the trend may continue, potentially marking a fifth consecutive month of declining traffic compared with the previous year.
Segment-level analysis shows that smaller vessels below 4,000 TEU account for most of the decline. These ships recorded 33.8 percent fewer transits year-on-year in January. However, their activity remains significantly higher than levels typically seen before the Red Sea crisis.
Mid-sized ships between 4,000 TEU and 7,500 TEU have remained relatively stable, while vessels in the 7,500 to 18,000 TEU range have begun returning cautiously since mid-2025. The largest container ships above 18,000 TEU crossed the Suez Canal for the first time in more than twenty months during December, with another passage observed in January.
These developments suggest that while traffic is gradually rebalancing across vessel segments, a full normalization of Suez Canal flows has not yet occurred.
Evergreen Operates the Youngest Fleet Among Major Carriers
Another dataset reported in February highlights significant differences in fleet age across the world’s largest container carriers.
Among the Top 20 carriers, Evergreen currently operates the youngest fleet, with an average vessel age of 9.3 years across nearly 240 ships totaling close to 2 million TEU of capacity.
Wan Hai Lines ranks second with an average fleet age of 9.4 years, followed by HMM with 9.6 years after recently surpassing the 1 million TEU capacity milestone.
Interestingly, the largest carriers by capacity tend to operate older fleets. MSC, despite its market leadership, ranks near the bottom of the age comparison with an average fleet age approaching 17 years.
Other major carriers also operate relatively mature fleets. Maersk’s average fleet age stands at 14.9 years, CMA CGM at 13.2 years, COSCO Group at 13.6 years, and Hapag-Lloyd at 13.3 years.
These differences reflect varying fleet strategies among carriers, with some operators prioritizing newbuild investment while others rely more heavily on second-hand acquisitions or chartered tonnage.
Far East–Europe Capacity Deployment Reaches Record Levels
Another key development reported in February concerns the Far East–Europe trade lane, where weekly deployed capacity has reached its highest level ever recorded.
For three consecutive weeks, deployed capacity on this corridor exceeded 521,000 TEU, marking a new historical peak for one of the world’s most important container shipping routes.
The OCEAN Alliance currently controls the largest share of capacity on the route at 32.4 percent. The Gemini Cooperation between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd accounts for 24 percent, while MSC, operating independently on the trade lane, holds 21.3 percent of deployed capacity.
The Premier Alliance consisting of ONE, HMM, and Yang Ming controls a further 16.7 percent, with non-alliance operators accounting for the remaining 5.6 percent.
These figures underline the continued importance of alliance structures and coordinated service networks in shaping capacity distribution across the main East–West trade corridors.
Stay Ahead with the Latest Insights
The container ship data trends reported in February 2026 highlight an industry undergoing gradual structural shifts rather than sudden change. Fleet expansion among the largest carriers continues, alternative propulsion technologies are gaining traction, and deployment patterns across major trade lanes remain dynamic.
At the same time, geopolitical factors and evolving alliance strategies continue to influence how capacity is deployed across global shipping routes.
AXSInsights is one of many solutions available in the Alphaliner platform and is essential tools for navigating today’s container shipping dynamics. By combining AIS-derived vessel tracking data with commercial datasets, it provides critical visibility into how the container shipping market is evolving as 2026 progresses. Request a demo today and stay on top of the world’s most dynamic supply chain sector.
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