Containership orders reach a record 633 vessels in 2025, driven by Cosco and Hapag-Lloyd, with concerns over future supply-demand balance.
Cosco and Hapag-Lloyd's recent orders have propelled the total number of containerships ordered in 2025 to a record 633 vessels, totaling 5.08 million TEU. This marks a significant increase, surpassing previous highs recorded in 2021 and 2024, as reported by Singapore's Splash 247.
Chinese shipyards have secured 72 percent of the orders this year in TEU terms. Broker Braemar indicated that the demand for feeder tonnage at Chinese yards continues unabated, with the only limitation being the availability of building slots.
Further contributing to this record, MPC Container Ships has placed an order for six 3,700 TEU vessels at Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering, according to Splash.
Filipe Gouveia, BIMCO's shipping analysis manager, noted that the container orderbook-to-fleet ratio currently stands at 33 percent. He cautioned about a potential oversupply, predicting that vessel supply will exceed demand over the next five years.
Gouveia also highlighted that the sector could experience the largest demand reduction if shipping routes return to normal in the Red Sea and Suez Canal, raising concerns about the balance between supply and demand.
