According to data from shipping consultancy Linerlytica, the ratio of container ship orders on hand to the total fleet has reached 39%, marking a record high since 2010; global orders on hand total 1,630 vessels, with a combined capacity of 13.28 million TEU.
In its latest weekly container market report, Danish shipbroker MB Shipbrokers noted: “Currently, newbuilding projects are still underway in the medium- and large-sized container ship segments, with several expected to be finalized before the summer holidays.”
Clarksea data shows that from January to May 2026, global shipowners placed orders for a total of 332 container ships, putting the full-year order volume for 2026 on track to approach the record high of 750 vessels set in 2025. Additionally, Alphaliner forecasts that 2029 will see a peak in container ship deliveries.
The continued boom in the container ship market is prompting shipowners to seek alternatives to newbuilds for expanding their fleets. Alphaliner recently disclosed that at least two Supramax bulk carriers are currently being converted into 2,500 TEU cellular container ships.
The vessels designated for conversion are Diamond 53-type open-top Supramax bulk carriers, primarily built by CSSC Chengxi Shipyard between 2005 and 2011. Featuring a double-hull, open-top cargo hold design, this class offers a relatively straightforward conversion process compared to conventional bulk carriers, making it an ideal candidate for retrofitting.