After a month of integration, new alliances in container shipping are showing potential to influence competition among carriers. The sector has faced challenges in recovering schedule reliability post-COVID-19, but Sea-Intelligence data suggests that these alliances might reshape the industry.
Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd introduced a model through the Gemini Cooperation, focusing on fewer ports for larger vessels, supplemented by regional operations. They aim to achieve 90 per cent schedule reliability, and they anticipate that increased reliability will justify higher costs for shippers.
Throughout 2024, schedule reliability lingered in the low to mid-50 per cent range, with Sea-Intelligence reporting an industry average of 53 per cent across 34 trade lanes. This marked a decrease from 2023 figures.
In 2025, the pattern persisted, with the average remaining at 53 per cent for the initial months. February saw the Gemini Cooperation reach 94.0 per cent schedule reliability in origin ports. MSC recorded 79.6 per cent, and Premier Alliance 60.4 per cent. Ocean Alliance, THE Alliance, and 2M recorded 54.1 per cent, 45.3 per cent, and 44.2 per cent, respectively.
Alan Murphy, CEO of Sea-Intelligence, stated, "It is important to stress that the new alliances are just in the beginning phase of their network roll-out, and they will only be fully rolled out in July 2025."
February data indicated a 3.6 percentage point improvement in global schedule reliability to 54.9 per cent, the highest since May 2024. Maersk led with 60.2 per cent reliability among top carriers, followed by MSC and Hapag-Lloyd.
Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd forecast a challenging 2025, with schedule reliability becoming a key competitive tool.
Source: The Maritime Executive