According to Alphaliner’s annual analysis of the top 10 container carriers’ reefer (refrigerated container) capacities, there is generally a correlation between the overall size of a liner operator’s fleet and its reefer capacity ranking. However, ZIM Integrated Shipping Services presents a notable exception to this trend.
Temperature Controlled Cargo
As the world’s largest ocean carrier, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company possesses a substantial capacity for refrigerated (reefer) containers, with approximately 651,000 slots available across its fleet. If fully utilized with 40-foot reefer boxes, this capacity would represent one-fifth (20%) of MSC’s total vessel capacity dedicated to temperature-controlled cargo.
MSC’s year-on-year increase of 11.7% in reefer plugs closely aligns with its overall fleet capacity expansion of 11.6% over the past twelve months. This trend of reefer capacity growth mirroring overall fleet growth is typical for most major carriers.
However, CMA CGM demonstrated a more significant strategic emphasis on reefer capacity. The French carrier increased its reefer capacity by 10.4%, while its overall fleet growth was ‘only’ 6.7%. This allows CMA CGM to theoretically allocate 23.3% of its nominal capacity to reefer cargo, placing it among the carriers with the highest ‘reefer-to-fleet’ ratios among the major lines, comparable to A.P. Moller – Maersk (23.2%), ZIM (22.7%), and Hapag-Lloyd AG (21.0%).
Alphaliner’s annual reefer capacity analysis consistently reveals that the fleets of Asian carriers tend to have a lower proportion of reefer capacity compared to their overall fleet size. These ‘reefer-to-fleet’ ratios range from 16.2% for COSCO SHIPPING Group to 18.5% for Ocean Network Express (ONE). This suggests a different strategic focus or trade lane emphasis for these carriers compared to their European counterparts.
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Source: Alphaliner on LinkedIn
