Shipping Alliances are shaping up for 2025

In 2025 we will be seeing New Alliances – The ‘Premier Alliance’ and the ‘Gemini Cooperation’

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‘The Premier Alliance’

This new Alliance will see Ocean Network Express, Hyundai and Yang Ming team up once again without Hapag Lloyd which previously made up ‘The Alliance’

The Premier Alliance is to last for 5 years, and will cover Asia-Europe, as well as the transpacific trade. The combined fleet will consist of 321 container ships, with an estimated capacity of 4.5million TEU . In addition to this MSC has also agreed a new vessel sharing agreement with the Premier Alliance and will add additional capacity through a further nine services between Asia and Europe.

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MSC

MSC has announced its new stand-alone East-West network from February 2025 after the breakup of the 2M Alliance with Maersk. Interestingly they are publishing a combination of sailings via both the Cape of Good Hope and the Suez Canal as they hope that the Red Sea Crises may end next year.

They also have the partnership with The Premier Alliance as above., which will give them a new? service to Southampton.

Furthermore MSC have signed a deal with ZIM on the Asia – North America Trade as they continue to push to grow market share.

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‘The Gemini Cooperation ‘

With the breakup of the 2M Alliance between Maersk and MSC, and Hapag leaving ‘The Alliance’ now to be known as the Premier Alliance from 2025. It perhaps makes sense that these 2 heavyweight carriers would combine and form their own alliance, branded the ‘Gemini Cooperation’.

This is also scheduled to commence from February 2025. The new partnership will reportedly include a fleet of around 290 vessels with a combined capacity of 3.4 million TEU. This will be made up of 60% Maersk and 40% Hapag Lloyd.

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‘Ocean Alliance’

So who else does that leave, OOCL/CMA/Coscon and Evergreen will continue as normal in the ‘Ocean Alliance’ agreement.

This Alliance has been extended for a further 5 years to 2032 as it continues to cover a large percentage of the market share. The group offers a capacity of around 4.3 million Teu globally. The Ocean Alliance was previously extended to 2027, however with the partial break up of other alliances they wanted to show strength and ensure a stable and reliable service by extending the agreement further.

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Summary ???

Premier Alliance – ONE, Hyundai, Yangming (9 further services with MSC)

The Gemini Cooperation – MSK, Hapag Lloyd

Ocean Alliance – OOCL/CMA/Coscon and Evergreen

MSC Stand-Alone Service

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This then concludes the three major Alliances in addition to the stand alone service by MSC, as all the major carriers continue to jostle to maintain and grow their market share.

2025 certainly sees a bit of a shake up and we all hope that this improves carriers service and reliability which has been heavily disrupted during 2024.

We also hope that 2025 may bring the end to the Red Sea crises.