Container Numbers Grew 8.5% in 2011, Drewry Says; 7% Predicted Through 2015
The container equipment fleet grew by 8.5% during 2011, taking the global fleet to 31.25 million TEU, according to Drewry Maritime Research's Container Census 2012. That followed 7% growth in 2010, it said. The report said there were indications that…
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up to 70% of 2011 net additions were made in the first 6 months of the year, apparently because of misreading of demand -- few buyers predicted an over-supply (900,000 teu at mid-2011, and over 500,000 teu end-2011) that was exacerbated by a weak peak season. Still utilization topped 95%. Andrew Foxcroft, author of the Container Census report, forecasted that annual container fleet growth will be in the order of 7% from 2012-2015 as shipping companies continue to adopt a tight container/slot operating ratio.