Carrier Alliance Reshuffle For 2025

The ocean freight carrier alliance structure is set for a shake up in 2025, with February being the pivotal month for the changes to come into effect.

The 2M Alliance will officially be coming to an end, when the world's two largest carriers, MSC & Maersk, go their separate ways after ten years in partnership.

MSC are effectively going to be operating as an independent network from next year, but have just announced that will enter a vessel-sharing agreement (VSA) with THE Alliance (THEA), for nine Asia-Europe services.

On the other hand, Maersk confirmed earlier this year that they are entering into a new alliance with German carrier Hapag Lloyd, which is to be called the Gemini Cooperation.

Hapag Lloyd's involvement in the new partnership with Maersk came as a surprise to many within the industry, as they are currently the largest carrier within THEA. Therefore, the newly agreed VSA with MSC will come as a boost to THEA's remaining members - Ocean Network Express (ONE), HMM and Yang Ming.

The carrier alliance structure for 2025 should look something like the below, unless there are any further changes in the next few months.

MSC - Independent - *VSA with THEA on Asia-Europe.

Maersk, Hapag Lloyd - Gemini Cooperation.

CMA CGM, OOCL, Cosco, Evergreen - Ocean Alliance.

ONE, Yang Ming, HMM - THE Alliance (THEA) - *VSA with MSC on Asia-Europe.

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