New alliances reshape East-West trade container shipping

Container shipping faces a transformative year in 2025, as key East-West and transatlantic shipping routes are set for substantial realignment, with the dissolution of existing alliances and the formation of new ones.

Carriers are optimising their networks to enhance competitiveness and meet the evolving demands of global trade, with the emergence of two new alliances: the Gemini Cooperation, a partnership between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, and the Premier Alliance, a collaboration of Yang Ming, HMM, and ONE, alongside new slotting arrangements with MSC.

The Ocean Alliance remains unchanged, continuing with CMA CGM, Evergreen, Cosco, and OOCL. These shifts will impact service offerings, schedules, and direct port-pair connections across major East-West routes, providing shippers with a mix of increased options and competition.

New alliances drive service innovation
MSC’s standalone network, set to operate independently of the previous 2M Alliance with Maersk, offers massive connectivity across five key trade routes: Asia to North Europe, the Mediterranean, North America West Coast, North America East Coast, and the transatlantic. The network promises high direct connectivity through both the Suez and the Cape of Good Hope, featuring over 1,900 direct port pairs, making it a formidable standalone competitor.

In contrast, the newly formed Gemini Cooperation offers few direct port-port pairs, concentrating on transhipment and feeder services to optimise efficiency. On the Asia-Europe route, MSC offers three-and-a-half times more direct connections than Gemini, while the Premier Alliance has structured its services with a high frequency of calls on selected port pairs, adding competitive pressure, especially on the Asia-North America route.

Competitive corridors and service options
For Asia-Europe, key origins including Shanghai and Ningbo will see extensive service coverage, with MSC offering the most direct options, followed closely by Ocean Alliance. MSC’s standalone network is set to offer daily services along some of these high-demand corridors, which will include major destination ports in North Europe, such as Antwerp and Felixstowe.

The Ocean Alliance will leverage its consistent service network with regular calls to European hubs, meeting demand with a steady schedule. In contrast, the Gemini Cooperation will focus on select routes with a more streamlined approach, prioritising efficiency over frequency, while the Premier Alliance positions itself as a flexible choice with direct connectivity to both large and mid-size European ports.

On the transatlantic route, the landscape is also evolving. MSC’s expanded standalone service includes comprehensive transatlantic offerings, with high-frequency connections to both North American and European ports. These routes cater to demand for direct services between major East Coast ports in the US and destinations such as Hamburg, Antwerp, and Rotterdam. The Premier Alliance, through its slot exchanges with MSC, will also deliver enhanced transatlantic options, further enriching service choices on this important corridor. The Gemini Cooperation, however, has chosen to limit its transatlantic service focus, concentrating on key North European ports.

Flexibility and choice
While 36 key port pairs will see direct services from all alliances, offering shippers competitive choices, 139 port pairs will be exclusively serviced by a single alliance, providing unique service propositions.

The distinct approaches taken by each alliance highlight a shift towards service flexibility, with alliances focusing on varying service concepts, transit times, and reliability levels to cater to different market needs.

As new alliances settle into their operational structures and MSC advances as a powerful standalone force, the reshaped East-West trade-lanes, including transatlantic services, will give shippers a broader selection of service configurations.

Metro negotiate rates and volume agreements with a broad portfolio of carriers, including MSC and across the alliances, to offer our shippers the widest range of service offerings, port-pairings and rates.

Our bespoke solutions uniquely reflect our customers requirements and expectations. For further information please EMAIL Chief Commercial Officer, Andy Smith, who would be delighted to review your situation.