MSC already operates close to ~7.4m TEU.
That is more than 21% of global liner capacity.
Another ~3m TEU is already on order.
That pipeline alone is larger than Hapag-Lloyd’s fleet.
Yet MSC has bought 30+ secondhand ships this year.
Some of the latest ships were built in 2002 and 2007.
Some will not join MSC until 2027.
One recent purchase is still sailing for Maersk.
MSC clearly does not simply need more ships.
So what is it really buying?
Here are 5️⃣ signals behind the strategy: