MSC: A Global Giant with Global Responsibilities

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is the world’s largest ocean carrier by capacity. Its vast network connects every continent, but scale alone doesn’t guarantee schedule reliability. In a volatile shipping market, knowing when your MSC container will arrive is just as important as knowing where it is.

Real-World ETA Performance Data for Smarter Planning

Vizion tracked over 13.3 million container journeys in 2024, pulling data from more than 230 tracking sources. Using that data, we analyzed how accurately MSC containers arrived according to their first posted ETA.

Why it matters:

1. Published schedules show ideal timelines
2. ETAs are operational and updated after departure
3. Performance vs ETA is the best signal of a carrier’s dependability

Together with real-time tracking, ETA performance enables better inventory planning, supplier accountability, and customer communication.

How Did MSC Perform in 2024?

Here’s how MSC ranked across several major global trade lanes:

Asia to North America (Transpacific)

1. On-time arrivals: 10.9%
2. Early arrivals: 11.4%
3. Median transit time: 39.8 days
4. Typical delay when late: 10.9 days
5. Grade: F

 North America to Asia (Transpacific)

1. On-time arrivals: 9.3%
2. Early arrivals: 20.5%
3. Median transit time: 49.6 days
4. Typical delay when late: 15.9 days
5. Grade: D+

Asia to Europe

1. On-time arrivals: 10.7%
2. Early arrivals: 16.5%
3. Median transit time: 50.2 days
4. Typical delay when late: 8.5 days
5. Grade: C-

Europe to Asia

1. On-time arrivals: 10%
2. Early arrivals: 21.6%
3. Median transit time: 54 days
4. Typical delay when late: 11.5 days
5. Grade: C-

North America to Europe (Transatlantic)

1. On-time arrivals: 8.4%
2. Early arrivals: 25.7%
3. Median transit time: 33 days
4. Typical delay when late: 11.1 days
5. Grade: C-

Europe to North America (Transatlantic)

1. On-time arrivals: 16.4%
2. Early arrivals: 16.7%
3. Median transit time: 30.6 days
4. Typical delay when late: 9.5 days
5. Grade: C-

South America to Europe + Mediterranean

1. On-time arrivals: 17%
2. Early arrivals: 20.1%
3. Median transit time: 37.6 days
4. Typical delay when late: 7.9 days
5. Grade: B-

Europe + Mediterranean to South America

1. On-time arrivals: 8.7%
2. Early arrivals: 30.2%
3. Median transit time: 34.2 days
4. Typical delay when late: 11.7 days
5. Grade: C

Where MSC Stands Out

MSC’s 2024 results show a mixed performance picture across global trade lanes. While on-time arrival percentages remain low, there are lanes where MSC demonstrates relative strengths:

1. High early-arrival rates in the Transatlantic, which can help shippers gain lead time into North America and Europe.
2. Stable transit times in Asia–Europe, offering predictability even when on-time percentages lag.
3. Better-than-average service in South America–Europe, where MSC delivered its strongest grade (B-).

These strengths underscore that while MSC doesn’t consistently achieve top reliability, it does provide predictable service patterns that shippers can plan around. For companies that build in modest flexibility, MSC’s global coverage and volume capacity remain a strategic advantage.

One Platform to Track Every MSC Container

Managing container flows with MSC through their portal is doable, but shippers with multiple carriers need unified visibility. Vizion simplifies that with:

1. Multi-carrier container tracking in one view
2. Live milestone events and dynamic ETAs
3. CSV upload, API access, and search by container or MBL
4. Real-time insights with historical delay benchmarks

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FAQs About MSC Container Tracking

How do I track an MSC container?
Use Vizion’s BoxTrack tool to track containers in real time, no login needed.

Is MSC reliable?
MSC shows mixed reliability by trade lane. Some lanes, like South America–Europe, perform stronger, while others, such as the transpacific, face longer delays. Shippers should plan lane-specific strategies when relying on MSC.

What is MSC’s SCAC code?
MSC’s Standard Carrier Alpha Code is MSCU.

What should I plan for with MSC?
Depending on your lane, plan for 5 to 12 days of delay padding beyond the posted ETA. Transpacific shipments especially require more buffer, while South America–Europe may run closer to schedule.

Smarter Tools for Global Shipping

Don’t track MSC shipments in a silo. See how Vizion helps you manage your entire supply chain in one interface. Start Tracking MSC Now

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