MSC executives voice: Have the scale and strength to operate independently, launch a new transport network next year
Recently, the container shipping market is very busy, of course, all related to the restructuring of shipping alliances, and the world's largest liner company Mediterranean Shipping (MSC) is undoubtedly the focus of attention.
As a traditional family business controlled by the Aponte family, MSC does not disclose financial data and corporate strategy to the public, so it is also known as the most mysterious liner company in the industry. However, in the past two years, many MSC executives have repeatedly spoken out, allowing us to get more information.
"Scale and strength to operate independently"
Unveiling the new independent East-West transport network to be officially launched in February 2025, MSC CEO Soren Toft said that unveiling the new independent network shows that MSC "has the scale and strength to operate independently" and is ready for the dissolution of the 2M alliance next year.
Explaining the partnership with Premier Alliance and Zim, Soren Toft stressed that MSC has the scale and strength to operate independently and that it is imperative to continue to lead the growth strategy. The partnership with Premier Alliance and Zim is largely a "slot exchange" on some key routes to further flesh out its now separate network, rather than any vessel sharing agreement (VSA).
Soren Toft said, "We have a very good independent network, and we think it's important to operate independently. We could have done that, but we thought it made sense to provide more hooks and coverage, so we chose to work with them."
Operating independently is DNA
At the same time, MSC Senior Vice President and head of MSC Asia Network, Caroline Becquart, revealed that MSC's planned launch of a new independent east-west route network may be an unprecedented opportunity to operate independently.
"It's part of our DNA," she says. Ironically, she credits 2M alliance partner Maersk for this. "Thanks to Maersk, who informed us that the 2M alliance would be terminated, we had to react," she revealed.
She said the decision to end the 2M alliance left MSC with no other option.
"The Ocean Alliance remains stable, so the MSC cannot join. MSC didn't want to join THE alliance, and we didn't know Hapag-Lloyd was going to partner with Maersk. So the only way for MSC is to operate independently."
MSC own union =2M
She revealed that MSC aims to be able to independently operate a network of routes similar in size to the 2M alliance.
"The key is to have a network that allows customers to enjoy the same service, the same ports, the same network, and to maintain the current frequency," she said.
In other words, to deploy "a very, very good port-to-port network" by February next year.
She said that under the leadership of MSC founder and Group Chairman Captain Gianluigi Aponte, MSC has achieved a frenzied capacity expansion by buying and ordering new ships in large quantities on the second-hand ship market as part of a plan to "become MSC's own union".
"He has a good feel for the market, so that allows us to deploy our own capacity to replace the 2M alliance," she said.
"With the Asia-Europe freight negotiations coming up, I think customers need to know structurally what the route plan is," she said.
"We don't know when the Red Sea crisis will end, so what should we do? Do we continue to work on short-term initiatives? No, I think we need to offer a structured product."
Caroline Becquart says MSC has launched its own standalone services on routes in Latin America, Australia and India.
"The most important goal for MSC is to operate the Asia-Europe and trans-Pacific routes independently, just like on any other route. It's part of our DNA and that's what we want," she said.
According to the information disclosed by the two executives of MSC, it can be understood that the current far ahead MSC has fully owned the strength and scale of independent operation, which is to completely copy an "independent network" equivalent to the 2M alliance, but in line with the strategy of "competitors' rivals" is friends, specially pulled new and old friends...... Of course, from the perspective of global supply chain and customers, this series of strategies and operations of MSC, by providing the world's largest and one of the "best networks" in the market, so that global supply chain customers benefit from having different or personalized "choices".
As a traditional family business controlled by the Aponte family, MSC does not disclose financial data and corporate strategy to the public, so it is also known as the most mysterious liner company in the industry. However, in the past two years, many MSC executives have repeatedly spoken out, allowing us to get more information.
"Scale and strength to operate independently"
Unveiling the new independent East-West transport network to be officially launched in February 2025, MSC CEO Soren Toft said that unveiling the new independent network shows that MSC "has the scale and strength to operate independently" and is ready for the dissolution of the 2M alliance next year.
Explaining the partnership with Premier Alliance and Zim, Soren Toft stressed that MSC has the scale and strength to operate independently and that it is imperative to continue to lead the growth strategy. The partnership with Premier Alliance and Zim is largely a "slot exchange" on some key routes to further flesh out its now separate network, rather than any vessel sharing agreement (VSA).
Soren Toft said, "We have a very good independent network, and we think it's important to operate independently. We could have done that, but we thought it made sense to provide more hooks and coverage, so we chose to work with them."
Operating independently is DNA
At the same time, MSC Senior Vice President and head of MSC Asia Network, Caroline Becquart, revealed that MSC's planned launch of a new independent east-west route network may be an unprecedented opportunity to operate independently.
"It's part of our DNA," she says. Ironically, she credits 2M alliance partner Maersk for this. "Thanks to Maersk, who informed us that the 2M alliance would be terminated, we had to react," she revealed.
She said the decision to end the 2M alliance left MSC with no other option.
"The Ocean Alliance remains stable, so the MSC cannot join. MSC didn't want to join THE alliance, and we didn't know Hapag-Lloyd was going to partner with Maersk. So the only way for MSC is to operate independently."
MSC own union =2M
She revealed that MSC aims to be able to independently operate a network of routes similar in size to the 2M alliance.
"The key is to have a network that allows customers to enjoy the same service, the same ports, the same network, and to maintain the current frequency," she said.
In other words, to deploy "a very, very good port-to-port network" by February next year.
She said that under the leadership of MSC founder and Group Chairman Captain Gianluigi Aponte, MSC has achieved a frenzied capacity expansion by buying and ordering new ships in large quantities on the second-hand ship market as part of a plan to "become MSC's own union".
"He has a good feel for the market, so that allows us to deploy our own capacity to replace the 2M alliance," she said.
"With the Asia-Europe freight negotiations coming up, I think customers need to know structurally what the route plan is," she said.
"We don't know when the Red Sea crisis will end, so what should we do? Do we continue to work on short-term initiatives? No, I think we need to offer a structured product."
Caroline Becquart says MSC has launched its own standalone services on routes in Latin America, Australia and India.
"The most important goal for MSC is to operate the Asia-Europe and trans-Pacific routes independently, just like on any other route. It's part of our DNA and that's what we want," she said.
According to the information disclosed by the two executives of MSC, it can be understood that the current far ahead MSC has fully owned the strength and scale of independent operation, which is to completely copy an "independent network" equivalent to the 2M alliance, but in line with the strategy of "competitors' rivals" is friends, specially pulled new and old friends...... Of course, from the perspective of global supply chain and customers, this series of strategies and operations of MSC, by providing the world's largest and one of the "best networks" in the market, so that global supply chain customers benefit from having different or personalized "choices".
