Do you even know like on how big of a scale things are moving through the ocean, we mean by the amount of cargo that takes a lot of commodities and products from one nation to the other? Well, that’s just mind-boggling! Sure enough, there are some shipping companies that really play a big role in all this maritime trade, and that’s how things are moving in the global imports and exports. Today though, we’re here just to give an idea of how things work in this particular industry, so just keep on reading because this post is all about the list of the top 10 biggest shipping companies in the world as of 2025. Alright, off to the list now.
1. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
From a single ship, one grows to become the owner of the entire ocean. That’s how MSC became, you know? Like, founded in 1970, it now operates around 800 ships, handling 5.86 million TEUs from Geneva. Keep in mind though, they are not only for bulk but also for fresh technology, being on track to net-zero emissions by 2050 with hydrogen-powered ships and therefore sit at the top of this very list today.
2. Maersk
All of you will have heard of it. It’s the not-quite-as-number-one leader in shipping, but still, it is a super popular name in maritime trade on the global stage. And a little bit of technical details here, it has 675 ships and 4 million TEUs, with which it connects more than 1,000 ports in 130 countries. Though, the interesting thing is they have ventured into experimentation with bio-methanol and other kinda good alternative sources for use in their propulsion and throwing a challenge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.
3. COSCO Shipping Corporation
There is no way you haven’t heard of COSCO, and this is actually the best of the players in the maritime shipping scene on the global level. And just so you’re wondering, 504 ships give a capacity over three million TEU, which is just HUGE if you think about it for a sec. And it’s not in use because it doesn’t mean it doesn’t make a huge difference by being the link between Asia and the rest of the world. But what makes it fabulously better than all that? The Green Mission. COSCO retrofits its old ships and takes cleaner fuels, the proof that old fleets can learn new ways, you know?
4. CMA CGM Group
Alright, then there is this French shipping company that is kinda doing really well in this particular segment of the global trade but how are they doing it? Well, just so you know, yes, CMA CGM owns over 600 ships within a TEU capacity of more than 3.5 million but left everyone spellbound by embracing the early adaptiveness that they have applied in LNG-powered ships, can you even imagine that? Secured with such a tight Asia-Europe trade route, means the company is up to it with all force and efficiency in the shipping industry.
5. Hapag-Lloyd
Next on the list, you see, the fleet of Hapag-Lloyd, which is German, is not the largest with 280 ships of 2.1 million TEUs, but the company has well-articulated plans. What are those? Well, strategy: operational efficiency and smart technology LNG fuels reduce emissions. Hapag-Lloyd is your workhorse-type shipping company, you know, that gets the job done without much of issues.
6. Ocean Network Express (ONE)
You see, this is the blaster: ONE is the latest to be formed when 3 Japanese shipping lines teamed, that was in 2017. Sure enough, jump forward to 2025, and ONE is already riding high to be among the top 10 companies with 230 ships and just so you know, have a total allocated capacity of 1.8 million TEUs in it. That’s just insane! The company prides itself on being tech-savvy and currently invests in IoT-enabled-smart containers, which can basically text about where they’ve reached (okay, not literally, but close enough!). But it is young and still dreaming much and longing for bigger ones.
7. Evergreen Marine
Are they environmentally friendly? You bet they are! Sure enough, the Taiwanese really live up to their words: 200 ships and a TEU capacity of 1.7 million. What stands out is their active green initiatives. Their ship fleet is gradually being equipped with more fuel-efficient ships that are going to change the shipping mode to LNG for lower emissions, you know? Even those mega container ships of this company are impossible to hide-they are like floating skyscrapers!
8. Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation
Small fleet? No problem. Well, with just 95 ships and a TEU capacity of 706,000, this Taiwanese company makes the bet that efficiency and sustainability are more important than a large fleet, that’s for sure. The company has dedicated itself to using biofuels and digitizing its supply chain for the rest.
9. Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM)
Haven’t you heard of a shipping company as innovative as a tech startup? That’s HMM for you. You know, by 2025, with a fleet carrying 818,000 TEUs, South Korea’s pride HMM will invest in modern ships that have a combined capability of using the Global Positioning System (GPS), now better than ever before, for optimizing routes. The testing of alternative fuels like methanol is also ongoing.
10. ZIM Integrated Shipping Services
Of course, last but not least is ZIM, that pride of Israel, you know? With 131 ships and a TEU capacity of 570,000, they may be the smallest on this list, but they are making a big splash in innovation, how? Like, their fleet management technology has ensured monitoring in real-time, which only means glib terms: “Everything runs superbly.” And yes, they are on the LNG scene too, a sign that even smaller players can bring the charge in sustainability forward.
Conclusion
It could very well be that you were genuinely curious about knowing which are the biggest shipping companies in the world, or maybe you want to do something with this information. We don’t know, but we truly hope that this post helped you out in some way.
