Chinese vehicle exports effectively absorbing newbuild flood but trade imbalance growing, says Höegh Autoliners
- Chinese vehicle exports continue to drive record-high vessel utilisation for global pure car and truck carrier operators
- But empty vessel repositioning voyages back to Asia have more than doubled, increasing operational costs
- Despite a heavy orderbook, with 75 new ships delivered in 2025 and 60 more due in 2026, demand has remained resilient
China’s rise as the leading global vehicle exporter is transforming deepsea car carrier markets. With a 21% increase in car exports in 2025 and a 40% surge in construction equipment shipments, the country is not only boosting passenger vehicle trade, but also revitalising high and heavy cargo flows
