Accelerating newbuilding deliveries are taking their toll on the markets, with container freight rates easing off despite fresh surcharges announced by the lines. Charter rates for box ships are so far stable, but worries over their sustainabil-ity are increasing.rnContainer ship owners are on the back foot for the first time since the onset of the rate recovery in the first quarter. Demand during the northern hemispherernholiday period has dried up and they are now fighting to defend last done levels in fresh fixtures. Rate assessments for some classes have already been marked down by the 16 German and international brokers of the ConTex panel.
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