Alphaliner: CMA CGM is the fastest growing operator in the first half of 2026
CMA CGM Notre Dame. Fot.. CMA CGM
By The title of “growth champion” according to analysts for Alphaliner went to CMA CGM in the first half of 2026. The French operator added 235,500 TEU slots to its fleet and to the market, more than MSC (205,000 TEU). The Marseille-based operator is well on its way to a strong position and overtake the Danish operator. Maersk focused on diversifying its services in 2026.
Next year, CMA CGM could take second place and position itself as one of the dominant operators in liner shipping. In an interview with French media, Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM, confirmed his intention to become the second-largest liner operator by the end of 2027.
With a fleet capacity of over 4,376,700 TEU, CMA CGM has significantly narrowed the gap in capacity offered to A.P. Moller – Maersk (4,727,600 TEU). The French operator continues to expand its fleet and its shipping offering. The Marseille-based shipowner has contracted nearly 160 vessels of various sizes with a total capacity of over 1,766,400 TEU, while its Danish competitor intends to introduce 90 vessels capable of transporting 1,209.4 million TEU.
Top 10 Containership Operators. Source: Alphaliner 100, https://alphaliner.axsmarine.com
Chinese Contract
The CMA CGM Group recently signed a contract worth USD 640 million for the construction of additional new ships. The order was placed in China. The ships will be built at the Hengli Heavy Industry docks. The French contract makes the shipyard the third-largest shipbuilding group in the world.
CMA CGM has signed contracts for eight 6,000-TEU containerships. The ships will be launched by 2029. This is the French line’s first order for new vessels at the Dalian shipyard, notes Irene Ang, a correspondent for TradeWinds in Singapore.
The ships are to be built according to a design developed by the Marine Design & Research Institute of China (MARIC), Alphaliner has determined. The Marseille-based operator already operates six 6,000-TEU vessels based on the MARIC design. They are equipped with conventional fuel systems but adapted to operate with ammonia.
French-Belgian Partnership
Four of the container ships are owned by Belgian company Delphis and operated by CMA CGM under long-term charter agreements. CMA CGM’s collaboration with Delphis (the container division of the Belgian CMB.TECH group) primarily involves long-term time charter agreements and the acquisition of a fleet valued at USD 120 million.
The partnership focuses on the operation of medium-sized, ice-class container ships, according to CMB.TECH. The group manages approximately 250 vessels, including tankers, bulk carriers, and chemical tankers.
In addition to the new vessels ordered directly from Hengli HI, CMA CGM plans to charter another 10 “MARIC 6000” class vessels from Singapore’s Eastern Pacific Shipping.
CMA CGM has a long-standing strategic partnership with the Marine Design & Research Institute of China (MARIC). Commissioned by a French operator, the office is designing a line of eco-friendly mega container ships. These are large vessels with engines powered by LNG or methanol. The container ships are being built in Chinese shipyards. Designs for the “MARIC Hercules 6000” series of medium-sized container ships also originate from the computers of MARIC engineers.
These vessels were ordered from three Chinese shipyards last year and are scheduled for delivery to the operator between 2027 and 2028. The container ships are equipped with dual-fuel propulsion systems and can run on low-sulfur marine fuel and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Top 10 Containership Operators. Source: Alphaliner 100, https://alphaliner.axsmarine.com
Contract in India
In February, the French operator confirmed the order for six dual-fuel feeder vessels with dual-fuel engines and LNG installations. The contracts were placed with the Indian shipyard Cochin Shipyard. This is the completion of a contract announced after the signing of a letter of intent in October of last year. The contract, signed in February, is being described by CMA CGM as a historic step in cooperation with Indian shipbuilders.
The contract, worth approximately $360 million, with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) covers the construction of six containerships with LNG installations. These vessels will have a capacity of 1,700 TEU. The containerships will be registered with the Indian Maritime Registry and will fly the Indian flag. They will enter service between 2029 and 2031. The Indian shipyard will build ships with the support of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ expertise.
Container fleet continues to grow
The container fleet grew by 2% in the first half of this year, Alphaliner reports. The average increase in cargo space among the ten leading operators was 2.7%. MSC outperformed the average, with a 2.9% increase in capacity. Last year, the Geneva-based carrier recorded the fastest growth in cargo space.
During this period, container capacity increased by 11.7% to 831,400 TEU, according to detailed calculations by Alhaliner analysts. In the first half of this year, MSC introduced a set of eight new container ships, the MSC CLAIRE, with a capacity of 16,169 TEU, and seven smaller vessels with a capacity of 10,300–11,480 TEU.
CMA CGM has taken delivery of twelve new vessels from the shipyard, including the LNG-powered containership CMA CGM Notre Dame (24,212 TEU). This vessel is now the flagship of the French shipowner. GospodarkaMorska.pl reported on this here. Also sailing are the 23,872 TEU CMA CGM Grand Palais and ten methanol-powered vessels with capacities ranging from 13,130 to 16,180 TEU.
