Liner operators acting as if they expect strong 2026, not slump
- According to SCFI, spot rates from Shanghai to US east and west coasts rose 15% w/w, with rates to Northern Europe up 10% and rates to Mediterranean surging 19%
- Offered capacity in Asia-US east coast lane is up 10% w/w, according to Xeneta, with capacity to North Europe rising 11% and capacity to Med jumping 18%
- Carriers continue to add capacity via newbuilds, secondhand acquisitions and charters, with virtually no scrapping or idling
Market watchers have been expecting the container lines to fall prey to cyclical overcapacity since 2023. It hasn’t happened yet, and carriers are managing their fleets as if they don’t expect it to happen next year
