Ultra-Large NBs go on

qinxingchen

Despite concerns over tonnage overcapacity, newbuilding ordering momentum for ultra-large boxships is expected to continue for at least the next couple of years. SeaIntel Maritime Analysis said "Competition has forced lines to order more, bigger ships for fear of losing market share and the status of global carrier," predicting a total of 165 newbuildings in the range for 13,000-14,000 teu would be ordered within the next one or two years. Also, it expected that the number of global boxship players, currently totalling around 20, would be cut down to eight by 2020 from consolidation. SeaIntel prospected that dominant tonnage on the Asia-Europe lane will shift from 8,500 teu to 13,500 teu in the next two years and added that Asia's regional trade volume has been up by around 20% over the last two years due to free trade agreement between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Published : March 14, 2013