Container orderbook swells to 46.5% of fleet, a post-2009 peak

· Shipping · China

The container shipping orderbook has grown to 46.5% of the active fleet, a post-2009 peak, as carriers race to secure ultra-large tonnage, The Loadstar reported. The orderbook stands at 16.2 million teu, with newbuilding activity showing no sign of slowing. Chinese shipyards alone have booked a record 4.94 million teu this year, accounting for 88% of the total. The scale of ordering raises questions about future overcapacity once the vessels are delivered into an already volatile market.

Why it matters：A record-heavy orderbook concentrated in Chinese yards could tip container freight into overcapacity, reshaping rates and yard bargaining power for years.

Key points

  • Orderbook equals 46.5% of the active fleet, a post-2009 high
  • Total orderbook stands at 16.2 million teu
  • Chinese yards booked a record 4.94 million teu, 88% of the total

Sources (original reporting)

More stories from this day