Cosco and Hapag-Lloyd's latest orders have lifted the total number of containerships ordered in 2025 to a record 633 ships for 5.08 million TEU, surpassing previous highs in 2021 and 2024, reported Singapore's Splash 247.

China's shipyards have taken 72 per cent of the orders so far this year in TEU terms. Broker Braemar said the rush to secure feeder tonnage at Chinese yards shows no sign of slowing, with the only constraint being the availability of building slots.

Adding to the record, MPC Container Ships has ordered six 3,700 TEU vessels at Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering, Splash reported.

Filipe Gouveia, BIMCO shipping analysis manager, said the container orderbook-to-fleet ratio now stands at 33 per cent. He warned of a large tonnage overhang, predicting supply will outpace demand for the next five years.

Gouveia noted that the sector could face the largest demand reduction if ships return to normal Red Sea and Suez Canal routings, raising concerns about the balance between supply and demand.