Global Ship Order Book Hits 17-Year High as Tanker Orders Surge

The global shipping order book has climbed to its highest level in nearly two decades, as a wave of tanker contracting and sustained newbuilding demand across the 2020s continues to reshape fleet dynamics, according to new analysis from BIMCO.

BIMCO’s analysis shows the global order book reached 191 million compensated gross tonnes (CGT) by the end of the first quarter of 2026—equivalent to 17% of the existing fleet, the highest ratio since 2011.

“Global order books have been boosted by higher newbuilding contracting throughout the 2020s and most recently by the highest quarterly crude tanker contracting in history,” said Filipe Gouveia,