Containership demolition sales remained exceptionally low during the first half of the year, despite figures being boosted by accidents and sanctions, according to Alphaliner.
The containership demolition market continues to evolve at record lows with only eleven cellular vessels for a capacity of 36,700 teu reported sold for recycling in the first half of the year.
On paper, this is, in capacity terms, a significant rise compared to 2025, when the whole year saw only twelve vessels for 8,172 teu commercially disposed of for recycling. In reality, nearly 32,000 teu of the capacity sold so far this year was the result of accidents or sanctions and was not commercially motivated.
When considering commercial sales only, the first half saw only five ships for about 4,800 teu reported sold for recycling.
Once again, the healthy container shipping market, with a continuously high demand for tonnage and robust charter and freight rates in the last months, have explained in great part shipowners’ and carriers’ reluctance to dispose of their older tonnage, preferring instead to make the most of the lucrative trading environment.
The H1 demolition sales figures were boosted by exceptional events such as vessel accidents and sanctions.
Regarding accidents, Taiwanese carrier Wan Hai Lines (WHL) was forced to scrap in January its 4,333 teu WAN HAI 503, which was hit in June 2025 by a devastating fire while sailing off India. Meanwhile MSC had to resign itself to never getting back its 2,478 teu MSC BALTIC III which ran aground in Newfoundland, Canada, in February 2025 after losing power. The ship dismantling started on site in June and could take several months to complete.
Source: Alphaliner
