Container shipping preparing for old ships shake out
- Container lines are preparing for another overcapacity phase as a big wave of newbuilding deliveries coincides with moderating demand growth and a gradual return to the Red Sea and Suez Canal
- Any growing supply-demand imbalance will place sustained pressure on freight rates and undermine the economic viability of older tonnage
- Industry leaders, including Maersk, expect an increasing number of ageing vessels to be recycled in 2026
After nearly five years of minimal scrapping, vessel recycling is set to re-emerge as a central theme from the second half of 2026, accelerating into 2027 as regulatory pressure, carbon compliance costs and weaker earnings take hold
