Gulf Trade: Top Carriers and Ports

Special Report

MSC pips Maersk to top spot for US Gulf export carriers

By Laura Robb

Maersk held onto its top position in the Journal of Commerce’ s rankings of the top 10 carriers importing into US Gulf ports in 2024, but the carrier was bumped by Mediterranean Shipping Co.( MSC) from the top slot for exports.

Maersk imported 513,016 TEUs to Gulf Coast ports last year, down 0.5 % from 2023. Similarly, its import market share fell slightly to 19.1 % from 20.6 %.

MSC maintained the second spot in the Gulf Coast import rankings, hauling 476,387 TEUs, up 8.3 %, increasing its market share to 17.8 % from 17.6 % in the process.

CMA CGM was in third with 407,626 TEUs and a 15.2 % market share for Gulf imports— up from 13.9 % in 2023. The carrier also increased its Gulf Coast import volumes by 17.2 %.

Overall, the top five carriers bringing in US Gulf Coast imports hauled 1.90 million TEUs in 2024, accounting for 71 % of the total market share. The top 10 carriers collectively hauled 2.43 million TEUs into the Gulf Coast, up 7.4 % from 2023, and had a market share of 93.6 %.

MSC held 24.1 % of the export market share in 2024, up from 21.8 % in 2023. The carrier moved 459,789 TEUs from the Gulf Coast, up 14.5 % over the year.

Maersk, bumped to second place for exports, held 22.7 % of the market share— unchanged from 2023— with 433,483 TEUs. Its volumes increased by 5 % from 2023. Spots three through 10 on the list were unchanged compared with 2023.

In total, exports out of the Gulf Coast reached 1.91 million TEUs in 2024, up 3.8 % from 2023. Of that total, the top 10 carriers hauled 1.81 million TEUs— up more than 5 % from 2023.

Houston still dominant

Meanwhile, Houston maintained its chokehold on Gulf Coast imports in 2024, bringing in 1.89 million TEUs, an 8.4 % year-over-year increase and more than 70 % of total Gulf imports. The Port of Mobile remained number two for Gulf Coast imports with just under 11 % of the market share at 291,121 TEUs, up 2 % from 2023.

MSC handled 24.1 % of US Gulf Coast container exports in 2024, up from 21.8 % in 2023. MartinLueke / Shutterstock. com

Meanwhile, the combined Cosco Shipping / OOCL was good for fourth with 270,340 TEUs imported to the Gulf Coast, up 11.7 % from the year prior. Its share of the regional import market climbed to 10.1 % from 9.7 %.

The fifth slot for imports was maintained by Hapag- Lloyd, which held an 8.8 % market share with 234,939 TEUs imported, an almost 9 % jump from 2023. In sixth, Ocean Network Express( ONE) imported 149,397 TEUs to the Gulf Coast in 2024, up more than 10 % over the year. It held 5.6 % of the market share, up from 5.4 % in 2023.

Carriers in spots seven and eight swapped places in 2024, with Evergreen Marine edging out Zim Integrated Shipping Services with 4.8 % of the market share and 129,105 TEUs imported. Zim brought in 123,000 TEUs, good for a 4.6 % market share.

Dole / Tropical Fruit Americas held 2.9 % of the market in 2024, down slightly from 2023, and moved 78,863 TEUs. Del Monte’ s market share was essentially unchanged at about 2.1 % with 55,046 TEUs brought into the Gulf Coast.

Tampa Bay climbed into the top three for the first time with 4.8 % of Gulf Coast imports, at 129,571 TEUs, besting New Orleans’ 4.4 % market share and 119,348 TEUs. Tampa Bay demonstrated the most year-over-year import growth for Gulf Coast imports, with volumes climbing 15.6 %.

Rankings on the export side stayed largely unchanged compared with 2023. Houston continued to dominate Gulf Coast exports in 2024 with nearly 75 % of the market share. It moved out 1.4 million TEUs during the year, up 6.1 % from 2023.

New Orleans and Mobile continued to hold second and third place, respectively, with 237,536 TEUs and 159,148 TEUs. Each had year-over-year changes of less than 2.5 %.

Overall, Gulf Coast ports imported 2.68 million TEUs, up 7.1 % from 2023. Exports reached 1.91 million TEUs, gaining 3.8 % over the year.

email: laura. robb @ spglobal. com

44 Journal of Commerce | April 7, 2025 www. joc. com