Maersk and MSC to end 2M Alliance in 2025

Maersk and MSC terminate the 2M Alliance in 2025 (Image: Phaata)

Maersk and MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Co), the world's two largest container shipping lines, have confirmed widespread rumors, announcing on January 25 that they have jointly agreed to end the 2M Alliance, effective January 2025. The 2M Alliance is one of three major global carrier alliances on major east-west trade lanes.

In a joint statement, Vincent Clerc, the new CEO of A. P. Moller-Maersk, and Soren Toft, CEO of MSC, said: “MSC and Maersk recognise that much has changed since the two companies signed the 10-year agreement in 2015. Discontinuing the 2M alliance paves the way for both companies to continue to pursue their individual strategies. We have very much appreciated the partnership and look forward to a continued strong collaboration throughout the remainder of the agreement period. We remain fully committed to delivering on the 2M alliance’s services to customers of MSC and Maersk.”

This decision has no immediate impact on the services offered to customers using 2M Alliance. Each company's customer teams will contact their respective customers for assistance during and after the 2M Alliance discontinuation.

Both carriers now have fleets of over 4 million TEUs, much larger than their rivals, with MSC on track to have fleets of more than 5 million TEUs soon.

Commenting via LinkedIn, former Maersk employee Lars Jensen, now head of consulting firm Vespucci Maritime, thinks the news is just the beginning of the reshaping of alliances on major east-west trade lane.

“This will change the competitive dynamics on the major east-west trades for all major carriers, and clearly all carriers will take a close look at which threats and opportunities this will bring forth,” Jensen wrote. The end of the alliance between Maersk and MSC could be seen as the "first domino" of other alliance collapses over the next few years.

In 2015, MSC and Maersk aiming to ensure competitive and cost-effective operations on the Asia-Europe, Transatlantic and Transpacific trades signed an alliance contract agreement of a minimum term of 10 years with a 2-year notice period of termination.

See more:

• 2M Alliance announces service changes on Transpacific route
• MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) - The world's leading container shipping lines
• Information you need to know about Maersk Line

Source: Phaata.com (According to Maersk)

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