Cosco Shipping and its OOCL subsidiary held their position as the leading carrier for containerized US imports from Asia in 2024, increasing tonnage by more than 20% on the year while expanding market share slightly, according to the Journal of Commerce’s rankings of the top 15 ocean carriers as measured by US imports from Asia.

Cosco/OOCL carried 3.06 million TEUs in imports last year, up from 2.5 million TEUs in 2023. Their combined market share nudged higher — to 16.1% from 15.8%.

CMA CGM maintained the second spot in the trans-Pacific rankings, hauling 2.65 million TEUs, up almost 15%, while posting a 13.9% market share, down slightly from 2023.

The rest of the top five shifted slightly.

Ocean Network Express (ONE) grabbed the third spot with 2.23 million TEUs and an 11.7% market share, moving up from number four.

Mediterranean Shipping Co., which did not break into the top five in 2023, moved to the fourth spot in 2024. The carrier imported 2.17 million TEUs to the US from Asia, up more than 24% from the year prior. Its share of the eastbound trans-Pacific market climbed slightly to 11.4%.

MSC knocked former 2M Alliance partner Maersk out of the top five, with Maersk sliding to the sixth spot with 1.84 million TEUs, up just 3.8% from 2023. Its 9.7% share of the market was down from 10.9%.

Evergreen Marine moved down two spots to number five in 2024, carrying 2.05 million TEUs, up 2.1%, while its market share fell to 10.8% from 12.5%.

Overall, the top five carriers in the eastbound trans-Pacific hauled 12.2 million TEUs in imports to the US in 2024, good for a 64% market share.

Rounding out the top 10 were Zim Integrated Shipping Services, HMM, Yang Ming and Hapag-Lloyd.

The top 15 carriers collectively hauled 18.8 million TEUs to the US from Asia, up 17.3% from 2023.

The elevated 2024 volumes can be largely attributed to increased demand compared with 2023 amid frontloading linked to new US tariffs and the threat of labor unrest on the East and Gulf coasts.

Laura Robb, Associate Editor | Feb 12, 2025, 3:48 PM EST