The 2025 reshuffling of carrier alliances has triggered a dramatic realignment in the Asia-Europe trade lane, concentrating market power in select European container hubs. Sea-Intelligence’s Sunday Spotlight, Issue 731, reveals that Hamburg and Valencia are the major beneficiaries, while Antwerp and Tangier face notable declines in deployed capacity.
Hamburg and Valencia Emerge as Winners
With new service networks stabilizing by July 2025, Hamburg has seen the most significant growth, gaining an average monthly +169,000 TEU in nominal vessel capacity. The surge reflects not only increased vessel sizes but also a higher frequency of port calls, dramatically strengthening Hamburg’s market position. Similarly, Valencia recorded gains of over +78,000 TEU per month, reinforcing its role as a rising Mediterranean hub.
Antwerp and Tangier See Sharp Declines
On the flip side, the alliance reshuffle redirected capacity away from traditional strongholds. Antwerp lost -138,000 TEU in average monthly nominal capacity, while Tangier, a key transshipment hub, saw a reduction of -122,000 TEU. These shifts underscore a broader strategic pivot by carriers seeking efficiency and competitive advantage in hub selection.
Despite these shifts, Rotterdam remains unrivalled as Europe’s dominant gateway port, with its extensive infrastructure and market scale ensuring its position at the top. The redistribution of nominal TEU capacity highlights the increasingly competitive landscape of European container ports, with Hamburg and Valencia now poised to shape the future of Asia-Europe maritime trade.
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Source: SEA-INTELLIGENCE
