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The production of new dry containers has been steeply increasing since late 2023 at a time when container shortages are becoming more and more prominent, according to LInerlytica.
Container throughput reached 520,000 TEUs in April, three times as many as the monthly average in 2023. All manufacturing slots in container factories are reserved until the end of July, with more than 4 million TEUs of new containers expected to be delivered this year, more than double the 1.97 million TEUs produced in 2023. Container production achieved a record high in 2021, with more than six million TEUs built.
“Carriers are fanning the panic, with Maersk claiming capacity loss on the Asia-Europe and Mediterranean routes has reached 15-20%,” said Lynerlytica. “Although the effective capacity situation is not as dire as the carrier suggests, the strong demand has taken the market by surprise, with box equipment and vessels also in short supply.”
So far this year, Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) has ordered the most containers, just under 400,000 TEUs, followed by Ocean Network Express (ONE) and Evergreen Marine.
