MSC orders 20 24,000-TEU ships, lifting container orderbook to 46.5% of fleet

· Shipping · China · Switzerland

Mediterranean Shipping Co. has ordered 20 container ships of 24,000 TEU each from shipyard partner Hengli Heavy, according to the Journal of Commerce. The order has pushed the global backlog of new container vessels to the equivalent of 46.5% of the existing fleet, the highest level since 2009, according to Linerlytica. The scale of the order underscores MSC's position as the world's largest container line by capacity and adds further momentum to a multi-year newbuild wave at Asian yards. The orderbook ratio reaching its highest since 2009 will be watched closely by carriers and charter owners weighing future capacity supply against demand.

Why it matters：A record-high orderbook relative to the fleet signals large future capacity additions, which could pressure freight rates once these ships are delivered.

Key points

  • MSC ordered 20 vessels of 24,000 TEU each from Hengli Heavy
  • Global container newbuild backlog equals 46.5% of the existing fleet
  • That is the highest ratio since 2009, per Linerlytica

Sources (original reporting)

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