Some better earnings but no breakthrough

摘要

Following a tough 2011, liner operators managed capacity to improve their earnings. But earnings in the charter market fared less well and a huge newbuilding backlog lies in wait. Analysis of the latest IHS Fairplay data confirms that the global containership fleet grew by a not insignificant 7.5 between January and December 2012 to reach a record aggregate capacity of 16.3 m TEU. This capacity growth was provided by an injection of 223 new ships with a combined slot capacity of 1.3Mteu. However, fleet expansion was tempered somewhat by a relatively high rate of vessel removals by demolition.