US volumes test tonnage supply, uncertainty looms
The commercially idle container ship fleet continues to hover at remarkably low levels, with only minor fluctuations observed in late May. Robust Transpacific cargo demand, driven by the temporary suspension of US-China tariffs, continues to put further strain on tonnage supply.
Shippers are actively frontloading cargo to mitigate the uncertainty surrounding the potential reintroduction of these tariffs in August.
The surge in demand, combined with ongoing Red Sea diversions and increasing waiting times at key ports across the world, is expected to sustain demand for liner tonnage in the coming months. This will keep vessel idling low for the near future.
Alphaliner’s latest survey identified 70 vessels for 185,157 teu as commercially idle, representing a mere 0.6% of the world’s 32.0 Mteu fleet. This very low percentage confirms that the liner sector is ‘fully employed’ with idling only occurring for incidental operational reasons.
Demand for large vessels is particularly high, and virtually no vessels larger than 12,500 teu are observed as idle, with the notable exception of the MSC ARIES, seized by the Iranian government last year.
Though the liner sector is currently benefiting from the disruptions and uncertainties, it is unclear how long the situation will last. In the absence of capacity-absorbing factors, available tonnage will likely outweigh demand.
Check out Alphaliner’s AXSInsights module if you’d like to monitor all vessels either in active service, or commercially idle and in shipyards or repair docks.
Source: Alphaliner
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