World’s Largest Container Line MSC Reportedly Orders 20 More Giant 24,000 TEU Ships From Chinese Shipyard

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world’s largest liner operator, has reportedly ordered 20 more container ships from China’s Hengli Heavy Industries.

Each ship will have a capacity of 24,000 TEU, adding a potential 480,000 TEU to MSC’s orderbook if the deal is confirmed.

Shipping consultancy Linerlytica reported the order in its weekly market report. However, neither MSC nor Hengli has officially confirmed it. The contract value, delivery dates and engine specifications have not been disclosed.

According to Linerlytica, the global orderbook has reached 16.2 million TEU, equal to 46.5% of the existing fleet. This is the highest ratio since 2009.

At the end of September 2026, MSC operated a fleet with a capacity of around 7.4 million TEU, accounting for 21.5% of global liner capacity, according to Alphaliner data cited in the source.

The company had another 2.94 million TEU on order, taking its combined fleet and orderbook beyond 10 million TEU.

If the latest reported order is confirmed, the additional 20 ships would bring another 480,000 TEU into its orderbook. Its total orderbook capacity would then exceed 3.4 million TEU.

The growing number of new ship orders shows continued investment in container shipping. However, the figures alone do not show how the additional capacity will affect freight rates or the balance between vessel supply and demand.

MSC and Hengli Heavy Industries signed a strategic cooperation agreement in August 2024. It covers new shipbuilding, marine engines, ship repairs and vessel retrofits.

Since then, MSC has built up a large order backlog at the Chinese shipyard. If the latest reported order is confirmed, the number of container ships with capacities of 20,000 TEU or more commissioned through the partnership would reach 62, according to the supplied report.

The vessels range from 21,000 TEU to 24,000 TEU, with deliveries expected to begin in 2027.

MSC has already ordered ten 21,000-TEU LNG dual-fuel container ships from Hengli. The contract marked the shipbuilder’s first full-vessel orders in the container ship market and its first contract for dual-fuel vessels.

Hengli said the first two ships in the series, C21K-1 and C21K-2, were launched on October 16. Each is 380 metres long, 58.6 metres wide and 33.2 metres deep.

The engine and fuel specifications for the latest reported order of 20 ships have not been disclosed. It is not yet clear whether they will use conventional fuel or alternative-fuel systems.

Hengli has secured orders for several types of commercial vessels from overseas shipowners. Since the beginning of October, it has announced 28 confirmed orders, according to the supplied information.

These include 11 very large ammonia carriers (VLACs) with capacities ranging from 88,000 to 93,000 cubic metres, six very large crude carriers (VLCCs), four LR2 tankers, two Suezmax tankers, four feeder container ships and one bulk carrier.