The Container Shipping industry experienced a dynamic July 2025, marked by significant developments in green fuel adoption, fleet capacity shifts, buoyant second-hand sales, and evolving market shares in regional trades. From COSCO’s entry into methanol-powered shipping to Maersk’s bold intra-North Europe expansion, the month brought key signals for the industry’s short- and long-term trajectory.
COSCO Joins the Methanol-Powered Mainliner Movement
In July, COSCO SHIPPING Group became the latest major ocean carrier to introduce large methanol-powered mainline vessels, following Maersk, HMM, and CMA CGM. The debut of the COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU marked China’s first step into large-scale methanol propulsion for deep-sea services.
This milestone came roughly 18 months after Maersk welcomed its first methanol-enabled mainline vessel, the ANE MAERSK, and only months after HMM and CMA CGM launched their own methanol-capable flagships. With four of the world’s top-ten carriers now operating methanol-powered mainliners, the shift toward alternative fuels is gaining momentum — though challenges remain.
While methanol offers a cleaner-burning alternative to conventional marine fuels, its lower energy density and the limited availability of truly “green” methanol continue to pose hurdles. Large fleets will require significant fuel supply chain expansion before methanol can make a meaningful impact on carbon reduction goals.
MSC Expands While ZIM Contracts
The global cellular container fleet grew by 1.18 million TEU in the first half of 2025 — a modest 3.8% increase compared to previous years. Much of that growth was driven by MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, which added over 365,000 TEU since January through both newbuilding deliveries and second-hand acquisitions.
By contrast, ZIM Integrated Shipping Services was the only top-10 carrier to reduce capacity in the same period. MSC’s aggressive expansion widened its lead over Maersk to nearly 2.1 million TEU — a gap equivalent to the entire fleet of Ocean Network Express (ONE), the world’s sixth-largest carrier.
Notably, ONE posted the highest percentage growth in the first half, up 5.9%, surpassing MSC’s 5.5% and HMM’s 5.1%.
Ship Recycling Hits a Standstill
Driven by robust freight and charter markets, demolition sales of container ships slowed to near-zero levels in July. Only ten vessels totaling 5,454 TEU were sold for recycling in the first half of the year — a steep drop compared to already modest 2024 figures.
Owners preferred to keep older tonnage trading profitably, mindful of lessons learned from recent global supply chain disruptions. Most demolition candidates were small sub-1,000 TEU ships, with the largest being the 803 TEU SOLONG, scrapped after a major fire.
Maersk Quadruples Market Share in Intra-North Europe
One of the most striking July developments was Maersk’s surge in the intra-North European container trade. Over the past 12 months, the Danish carrier increased its capacity in the market from 9,300 TEU to nearly 40,000 TEU, raising its market share from 3.7% to 13.5%.
This growth was largely fueled by the company’s “hub and spoke” strategy, developed with Gemini Cooperation partner Hapag-Lloyd. Six new shuttles, supported by eight larger vessels ranging from 2,400 to 5,900 TEU, accounted for the bulk of the added capacity.
Second-Hand Sales Market Stays Hot
The sale and purchase (S&P) market for container vessels remained strong in July, building on a busy first half of 2025. A total of 191 ships changed hands for continued trading — up from 141 in the same period of 2024.
Buyers remained undeterred by potential overcapacity risks, geopolitical tensions, or softer freight rates. Tight supply of available tonnage, particularly in larger vessel classes, kept prices firm. MSC was once again the most active buyer, acquiring 38 vessels, followed by CMA CGM with 19.
Stay On Top Of All Market News
While this recap captures the key developments of July, container shipping markets can shift quickly. For timely insights — from green fuel innovations to capacity shifts and market trends — the Alphaliner Weekly Newsletter delivers concise, data-driven updates straight to your inbox, keeping you informed on fuel innovations, fleet changes, market movements, and industry trends as they happen.
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