Container ship newbuilding orders surge to 600 in 2025

Container ship newbuilding orders surged to around 600 vessels in 2025, marking a 42% year-on-year increase from 413 orders in 2024 and making the year the second-highest on record. According to Veson Nautical’s 2025 End-of-Year Market Report, the rebound underscores sustained owner confidence in fleet investment despite elevated prices, regulatory uncertainty, and unresolved fuel technology choices.

The ordering surge reflects a year of solid container shipping demand, underpinned by global trade growth and extended voyage distances caused by Red Sea disruptions. However, owners’ ordering patterns reveal a strategic shift away from ultra-large tonnage, with growing emphasis on mid-sized and smaller container ships to mitigate future oversupply risks.

Demand Strength and Disruptions Drive Newbuilding Activity

Container ship owners accelerated contracting as longer rerouted voyages absorbed capacity and supported freight markets through much of 2025. While the post-pandemic normalization continued, uncertainty around Suez Canal transits encouraged carriers to secure tonnage capable of flexible deployment across mainline and regional trades.

At the same time, owners remained cautious about long-term balance, particularly given the sizeable orderbook already scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2029.

Post-Panamax Ships Lead Ordering Activity

The Post-Panamax segment dominated container ship newbuilding orders, with 213 contracts placed, representing a 53% increase year-on-year. This vessel class continues to attract owners seeking flexibility, offering scale advantages while avoiding the operational constraints faced by ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs).

Post-Panamax ships are increasingly viewed as a sweet spot, capable of serving major east–west trades while remaining compatible with a wider range of ports and canals.

Smaller Container Ships See Explosive Growth

Ordering activity in the Sub-Panamax and Handy/Feeder segments surged sharply, with 148 vessels contracted, a 543% year-on-year increase. The dramatic rise highlights a renewed focus on intra-regional trade, feeder services, and nearshoring-driven cargo flows.

Smaller container ships offer greater network resilience and are well suited to evolving trade patterns, particularly as carriers optimize hub-and-spoke operations.

ULCV Ordering Remains Subdued

In contrast, Ultra Large Container Vessel ordering stayed muted throughout 2025. Owners remained wary of adding capacity to a segment already facing a substantial delivery pipeline, with many opting instead to defer investment until market visibility improves.

Asian Owners and Shipyards Dominate the Market

Asian owners led global contracting activity, with companies from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan accounting for the majority of orders. Chinese shipyards strengthened their dominance, securing approximately 78% of all container ship contracts, or around 468 vessels, supported by competitive pricing, extensive capacity, and strong domestic demand.

South Korean shipbuilders ranked second, capturing 115 orders and around 19% market share, largely focused on higher-specification and alternative-fuel-ready vessels.

China Tops Global Container Ship Ordering Rankings

China emerged as the leading nation for container ship ordering in 2025, with 159 vessels contracted, including 46 from Hong Kong owners and 57 from Taiwan. Singapore followed with 70 orders, up 43% year-on-year, while Switzerland placed 26 orders, marking a 61% decline from the previous year.

European owners remained selective, prioritizing high-spec, future-ready designs over volume.

Fuel Uncertainty Shapes Vessel Specifications

Uncertainty surrounding long-term decarbonization pathways continues to influence container ship newbuilding specifications. Owners increasingly opted for dual-fuel or alternative-fuel-ready designs, with methanol, LNG, and ammonia among the leading options. Many contracts included “green upgrade” provisions to allow retrofitting as regulatory clarity improves.

Supply Risks Loom Beyond 2026

Despite the optimism reflected in 2025’s ordering boom, Veson Nautical cautions that the wave of incoming deliveries could push supply growth ahead of demand from 2026 onward. A normalization of Suez Canal routing would further reduce effective ton-mile demand, potentially placing downward pressure on freight rates.

A Strategic, Not Speculative, Ordering Cycle

Overall, the 2025 surge in container ship newbuilding orders highlights a more disciplined and strategic approach to fleet expansion. Owners are prioritizing balanced, adaptable, and future-proof fleets, positioning themselves for evolving trade patterns and tightening environmental regulations rather than betting solely on scale.

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