The global container ship order book reached a record high of 8.3 million TEUs by the end of 2024, surpassing the previous high of 7.8 million TEUs in 2023.
According to the latest BIMCO update, 4.4 million TEUs were ordered in 2024—the second-highest annual figure on record—despite deliveries also hitting a new peak of 2.9 million TEUs.
Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO, highlighted the dominance of large vessels in the order book:
“Ships of 8,000 TEU or larger account for 92% of the order book, with the 12,000–17,000 TEU segment alone making up 46% of total capacity.”
Meanwhile, shipping markets face geopolitical uncertainty. A potential ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could trigger a sharp drop in freight rates if container ships return en masse to the Red Sea, according to market analysts.
Additionally, concerns over former U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies are adding uncertainty for global shippers.
Industry experts suggest that, in the short term, businesses may increase stock inventories to mitigate tariff risks.
In the longer term, escalating trade tensions could drive supply chain shifts away from China toward India and Southeast Asian nations.
However, significant financial investments and operational changes will likely depend on concrete policy decisions rather than political rhetoric.
