Container shipping markets are facing a severe risk of overcapacity in the coming years, with a total of 7.3 Mteu of newbuilding capacity, representing 28.3% of the existing cellular fleet, expected to hit the market by the end of 2025.
The years 2023 and 2024 alone will see a total of 5.1 M teu of newbuilding tonnage joining the fleet, with 2.3 Mteu expected next year and 2.8 Mteu due in 2024. By comparison, the containership fleet is expected to see only about 1.1 M of new capacity hitting the water in 2022, about the same as in the year before.
As the world edges toward what could be a lasting recession with an anticipated drop in seaborne trade, the market will likely not be able to absorb such a flood of newbuilding capacity.
Source: Alphaliner
