News / MSC adds five more as box ship spending spree goes on

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The new year has “not begun quietly” for the second-hand containership market, as MSC ‘more-than-dominates’ the scene, according to analysts at maritime consultancy Braemer.

As reported by The Loadstar, the world’s largest carrier MSC has been linked to a deal to buy 30 of Sinokor Merchant Marine’s containerships, believed to help offset SMM’s recent $2bn acquisition of 100 second-hand supertankers. 

However, there is “no such thing as being too busy” for MSC, according to Braemar.  

“With MSC seemingly tied up with a sizeable Sinokor fleet deal (and possibly a few VLCCs), this might have been seen as an opportunity for other market players to acquire container tonnage,” it said. However, MSC has now reportedly picked five additional second-hand vessels, “once again dashing the hopes of other buyers”.  

Emily Stausbøll, senior shipping analyst at Xeneta, explained: “Reasons for turning to the second-hand market will vary across carriers.”
“For example, MSC has been aggressive in recent years in terms of increasing capacity, but with fewer new deliveries expected in 2026, the second hand market is an almost immediate way to grow its fleet as required,” she told The Loadstar.

Braemar’s report of market rumours notes that the Geneva-based carrier has agreed to acquire the 1,500 teu Erasmus Master for close to $18m, the 3,535 teu A-Rex Dexterity for $35m, and the 1,118 teu Lila Canada and 1,440 teu Cape Ferrol for an undisclosed price. It is also close to closing a deal for 1,300 teu vessel, according to Braemar.  

MSC’s new additions are all scheduled to be delivered between June and July. 

“It is only the end of the second week of January, and from the second-hand market alone we have recorded nine vessels purchased by MSC outside the rumoured Sinokor fleet deal, with no vessels bought by any other buyer,” stated Braemar’s report. 

“Had a South American president not been kidnapped, a Middle Eastern theocracy not come close to collapse, and a piece of European territory not been threatened with invasion by a supposed ally, this would all seem highly abnormal. 

“Instead, 2026 has begun with a bang,” it said.  

Indeed, over the weekend US president Donald Trump threatened countries not in support of his Greenland takeover, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, Netherlands, and Finland, with tariffs of up to 25% from 1 February – The Loadstar’s Alex Whiteman will be reporting on this soon.