Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) has reportedly ordered another 20 megamax containerships of 24,000 teu each at China's Hengli Heavy Industries, adding roughly 480,000 teu of future capacity to its already extensive orderbook, according to liner consultancy Linerlytica. The deal takes MSC's programme of vessels exceeding 20,000 teu at the Dalian-based shipbuilder to 62 ships. No contract value, delivery dates or propulsion details have been disclosed. MSC has steadily built up its pipeline at Hengli since signing a strategic cooperation agreement with the yard in 2024. The carrier initially contracted ten 21,000 teu and ten 24,000 teu LNG dual-fuel newbuildings, before adding six 22,000 teu ships last year. At the end of September, Alphaliner data cited by Splash put MSC's operated fleet at around 7.4m teu, or 21.5% of global liner capacity, with a further 2.94m teu on order, pushing its combined fleet and orderbook past 10m teu. The order comes amid a broader surge in container newbuilding activity, with Linerlytica estimating the global containership orderbook at 16.2m teu, equivalent to 46.5% of the existing fleet and the highest ratio since 2009. South Korea's HMM is also expanding, confirming contracts worth about KRW1.92trn ($1.44bn) for eight 13,000 teu LNG dual-fuel containerships at HD Hyundai, split between HD Hyundai Samho and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, with deliveries starting in 2029 for its Far East–India–Mediterranean service. HMM has also acquired four feeder vessels through resale agreements.