According to Alphaliner data, there are currently nearly 900 container ships under construction in shipyards around the world, with a total capacity of about 6.8 million TEU. According to Alphaliner, the total capacity of the container fleet under construction exceeds the combined capacity of the existing fleets of COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd and Evergreen, which are the fourth, fifth and sixth largest in the world respectively. Liner company.

The global container fleet currently has a total capacity of more than 25 million TEU, while in 2007, when the ratio of ship orders under construction to the fleet reached a peak of 64.2%, the total capacity was less than half of the current capacity.

According to Alphaliner, containership prices have risen by 30% to 35% compared with the end of 2020 due to tighter shipyard positions, higher steel costs and higher energy prices.

Mediterranean Shipping Lines (MSC), which overtook Maersk to the top of the liner chart earlier this year and has the largest order book, will deliver new ships of more than 1.7 million TEU capacity over the next few years, according to data from sea intelligence. MSC's capacity in shipbuilding orders alone is comparable to that of Hapag-Lloyd, the world's fifth-largest liner company.

According to Danish Ship Finance, new contract orders for container ships in the first quarter of 2022 increased by 256% compared to the previous three months. Data shows that by 2023 and 2024, 319 and 263 new ships will be delivered, respectively, which will drive fleet capacity growth to 8% and 6%, respectively.

"If current orders for new ships continue, future overcapacity will have a long-term impact on the container market," a report published by Danish Ship Finance earlier this month warned.