Mediterranean Shipping Co MSC) has reached seven million TEU in vessel capacity, with the eight largest carriers now controlling more than 80 percent of global supply, according to Jeremy Masters, managing director of Hong Kong’s Shipping Masters.
Writing in New York’s Journal of Commerce, he also said Smaller carriers no longer realistically aspire to join the big leagues without deep pockets.
Yet by staying nimble, lean and customer-focused, they can avoid being trampled and quietly grow.
Mr Masters said intra-Asia trades remain particularly viable, with lean organisations and niche products allowing midsize carriers to thrive while larger rivals focus on way port legs.
Differentiated, client-focused services are key to survival.
“The gap between MSC at No 1 and Yang Ming at No 9, with 725,000 TEU, is stark.
By No 15, KMTC operates only 160,000 TEU.
Larger carriers have absorbed second-hand tonnage, tightening supply and driving up charter prices,” he said.
Mr Masters noted that MSC subsidiary Terminal Investment Limited aims to become the world’s largest terminal operator.
Maersk, CMA CGM, Cosco, Hapag-Lloyd, Evergreen and Ocean Network Express also hold significant terminal capacity and continue to expand.
While big carriers have widened into logistics, they lack dominance in that sector.
Their control at of ocean capacity, container handling and inland delivery makes competition difficult for smaller lines, he said.
Wan Hai and Pacific International Lines, which rank 10 to 12, most of the top 30 carriers are regional or feeder operators.
Their fleets are concentrated in the 1,000- to 8,000-TEU range, with many below 3,000 TEU.
Unlike the majors, midsize carriers often rely heavily on either owned or chartered fleets, creating volatile slot costs.
This leaves them exposed in major trades when rates fall.
Smaller carriers can still join long-haul trades opportunistically, as seen on Asia-North America West Coast, but risk collapse when cargo is scarce.
Their best prospects lie in sub-8,000- TEU trades where costs are competitive.
Successful midsize carriers often build from regional strongholds, such as the Mediterranean or Southeast Asia, where connecting cargo flows provide stability.
Choosing less-populated port calls also helps, such as linking Ringaskiddy, Ireland, with Wilmington, North Carolina.
Textile exports increase 0.90% to $9.16bn during Jul-Dec
Textile exports witnessed an increase of 0.90 percent during the first half of the fiscal year (2025-26) as compared to the same half of last year (2024-25).
The overall textile exports from the country were recorded at $9.166 billion during July-December 2025-26 against the exports of $9.084 billion during July-December 2024-25, the latest data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) said.
The textile commodities that contributed to trade growth included knitwear, the exports of which increased by 4.09 percent to $2,670.662 million during the months under review, as compared to the exports of $2,565.637 million last year, while the export of raw cotton also increased by 323.05 percent to $2.606 million compared to $0.616 million last year.
The other commodities that witnessed trade growth included bed wear, the export of which surged by 1.94 percent to $1,610.925 million from $1,580.203 million, tents, canvas, tarpaulin by 7.37 percent to $71.678 million from $66.761 million and ready-made garments by 4.89 percent to $2,144.293 million from $2,044.319 million.
The export of made-up articles (excluding towels and bedwear) increased by 0.54 percent to $387.947 million from $385.868 million, and all other textile materials up by 3.53 percent to $377.291 million from $364.415 million.
The textile commodities that witnessed negative trade growth included cotton yarn, the export of which declined by 3.22 percent from $365.131 million to $353.391 million, while the export of cotton cloth decreased by 14.26 percent from $964.661 million to $827.081 million.
Similarly, the export of yarn other than cotton yarn also decreased by 3.45 percent from $17.410 million to $ 16.810 million, towels by 3.17 percent from $530.003 million to $ 513.222 million, and Art, silk and synthetic textile by 4.65 percent from $199.534 million to $190.263 million.
Meanwhile, on a Year-on-Year (YoY) basis, the textile exports from the country witnessed a decrease of 8.56 percent during December 2025 as compared to the corresponding month of last year.
Africa leads global air cargo growth at 15.6pc
African carriers posted the strongest growth in global air cargo demand in November 2025, with volumes rising 15.6 percent year on year, reports Nairametrics of Lagos.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said African airlines also expanded capacity by 18.1 percent, the largest increase of any region.
The figures high light the continent’s growing role in global trade and reliance on air freight.
Globally, total air cargo demand rose 5.5 percent in November, with international operations up 6.9 percent.
Global capacity increased 4.7 percent, and 6.5 percent for international flights.
IATA director general Willie Walsh said demand growth was driven by shippers prioritising timely deliveries ahead of the holiday season, strategic trade rerouting and strong demand in emerging markets.
He noted that weakness in the Americas, linked to adjustments under the new US tariff regime, was offset by resilience elsewhere.
DP World Port of Callao surpasses 2 million TEUS in a year
DP World’s Port of Callao terminal has become the first port terminal on South America’s West Coast to handle more than 2 million TEUS in a single year.
The record volume represents a 22 percent increase compared to 2023, the year prior to the commissioning of the Bicentennial Pier, highlighting the terminal’s ability to support growing trade volumes while improving service reliability for importers and exporters.
According to estimates by Apoyo Consultoría, a leading Peruvian economic research and advisory firm, DP World’s terminal on the South Pier contributed more than $316 million to Peru’s gross domestic product (GDP) and powered an estimated $23.6 billion in economic activity across Peru in 2024 alone.
The milestone was formally recognised during a commemorative event attended by senior government officials and industry leaders, who highlighted the role of private investment in strengthening Peru’s logistics ecosystem and supporting long-term economic development.
The record-setting performance was enabled by the Bicentennial Pier, a $400 million investment that increased the terminal’s operational capacity by 80 percent.
The expansion reportedly allows the terminal to serve larger vessels, operate with greater efficiency, and reduce congestion, positioning the port to meet rising trade demand while enhaneing service reliability.
Carlos Merino, CEO of DP World in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, said: “Just a decade ago, 2 million TEUS represented the total volume handled by all ports in Peru combined.
“Today, this volume is being reached by a single terminal, reflecting how strategic investment in modern port infrastructure can transform a country’s trade capacity and strengthen its position within global supply chains.”
Last month, DP World expanded its operations in Romania with the introduction of two new mobile harbour cranes and the completion of a 119,000 square metres multimodal terminal platform at Constan? a South Container Terminal (CSCT).
Maersk resumes MECL service via trans-Suez route
A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk) has decided to implement the first structural change of a service back to the trans-Suez route, following the successful trans-Suez transits of the Maersk Sebarok and the Maersk Denver.
This applies to the MECL service, allowing Maersk to return to the service pattern originally designed and to provide customers with the most efficient transit times.
The MECL service is solely operated by Maersk and connects the Middle East and India with the US East Coast.
Maersk will continue to monitor the security situation in the Middle East region very closely, and any alteration to the MECL service will remain dependent on the ongoing stability in the Red Sea area and the absence of any escalation in conflicts in the region.
The safety of crew, assets and customers cargo remains the highest priority.
Maersk has contingency plans in place should the security situation deteriorate, which may necessitate reverting individual MECL sailings or the wider structural change of the MECL service back to the Cape of Good Hope route.
Since the diversion of the first sailing from the Red Sea route to the Cape of Good Hope route, Maersk has maintained the intent to resume trans-Suez routing when conditions allow.
The Suez Canal is a vital maritime corridor between East and West and a key driver of efficient global supply chains.
The route through the Suez, the Red Sea, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is the fastest, most sustainable and most efficient way to serve customers with transport between Asia and Europe, reported Maersk.
The structural change of the MECL service is a significant milestone in Maersk’s gradual resumption of trans-Suez sailings.
The strategic partnership between Maersk and the Suez Canal Authority has played a key role in the planning of the return.
The first sailing in the structural change of the MECL service was the Cornelia Maersk on the westbound trans-Suez route voyage 603 W, departing Jebel Ali on f the first 15 January 2026.
The Maersk Detroit voyage 602E was the first eastbound sailing, departing North Charleston on 10 January 2026, to use the trans-Suez route, with all subsequent sailings following this routing.
Last month, Maersk opened a new container depot in Manzanillo, Mexico, following an investment of more than $15 million aimed at strengthening the country’s logistics and landside capacity.
November air cargo demand rises 5.5 pc
Global air cargo demand climbed 5.5 percent in November 2025, driven by emerging market strength and peak season activity despite uneven regional performance, reports London’s Air Cargo News
IATA said Africa led growth with a 15.6 percent increase, while Asia Pacific rose 10.3 percent on ecommerce and intra-regional trade.
Middle Eastern carriers expanded volumes by 7.4 percent, and European airlines grew 5.8 percent.
The Americas remained weak.
Capacity rose 4.7 percent year on year, lifting cargo load factor to 49.1 percent.
IATA said the expansion reflected strategic fleet deployments across major markets.
Jet fuel prices gained 5.9 percent, marking a third monthly rise.
Cargo yields fell 2.9 percent year on year but jumped 8.2 percent month on month, the strongest increase since December 2021.
Global goods trade grew 3.2 percent in October, while manufacturing sentiment strengthened in November with PMI at 51.17. New export orders edged up to 49.87 but stayed below the expansion threshold.
IATA director general Willie Walsh said strong emerging market demand and selective Middle Eastern growth offset softness in the Americas.
He added the resilient fourth quarter bodes well for the industry entering 2026.
Yang Ming targets 30pc fleet growth by 2030
Taiwanese carrier Yang Ming plans to expand its fleet by 30 percent to 1.5 million TEU by 2030, reports London’s Loadstar, citing LA’s Index Box Market Intelligence.
The company currently operates 715,000 TEU and will place newbuilding orders to meet its target.
The focus will be on dual-fuel vessels capable of running on green methanol.
Smaller containerships of 6,000 to 12,000 TEU remain the most popular in the shipbuilding market, accounting for the majority of orders.
Demand is driven by the need for flexibility and efficiency on routes not served by ultra-large vessels.
In a related development, US President Donald Trump approved US$1 billion in subsidies for US shipbuilders.
The move is seen as part of efforts to counter China’s dominance in global shipbuilding.
Analysts note that shipyard capacity is constrained despite high ordering activity.
This is expected to keep newbuilding prices firm and may delay some deliveries beyond 2030.