Markets/Trades

Only 14 containerships for 9,857 teu have been scrapped so far this year, with no new scrap sales expected in December as the high charter rates are keeping older ships from the scrapyard. The full year scrapping rate in 2025 will be the 2nd lowest on record, only surpassing 2022 when just 3 ships for 2,848 teu were sent for demolition during the height of the COVID pandemic. With over 1,690 ships for 4.40m TEU that are over 20 years old, the number of ships to be scrapped will need to accelera

Container traffic from the Far East to the US Transpacific volumes fell by 7.2% YoY in October following a 10.0% YoY drop in September. Volumes are starting to stabilize after the initial turbulence since import tariffs into the US were first announced in April this year, with the softening trend expected to continue into November and December. Although YTD volumes through October remains positive at 2.1% due to front loading during the first 4 months of this year and a strong rebound in July a

The vote to delay the Net-Zero Framework on 17 October 2025 reveals a deep split between IMO member states with the EU pushing the decarbonization agenda along with smaller island states that stand to gain the most from the NZF while the US and most of Asia were opposed to the adoption of carbon pricing on shipping. Countries that voted for the delay included the US, China and Russia along with other major oil exporting nations. Singapore was the only Asian country to vote against the motion to

IMO member states voted 57-49 to adjourn the MEPC meeting for one year on 17 October 2025, delaying the adoption of the Net-Zero Framework (NZF) which raises investment uncertainty for new containerships although it will not stop the ongoing wave of new ship orders. Owners have added a further 240,000 teu to the orderbook in the last 2 weeks, bringing total new containership orders in 2025 past the 4m teu mark. Containership owners and operators are already ahead of other shipping segments in t

The aggregate revenue of the three major Taiwanese liners dropped by 9% quarter on quarter and 31% year on year, broadly in line with CCFI's movement. Evergreen and Yang Ming reported steeper drop. Maersk guided its earnings in 4Q may fall by 68% quarter on quarter or flip into losses.

CMA CGM has sent the 17,859 teu CMA CGM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN on the FAL1/NEU4 service on an eastbound Suez passage, marking the first OCEAN Alliance FE-North Europe sailing to return to the Red Sea since 2024. The ship is scheduled to pass the Suez on 1 November and arrive at Port Klang on 13 November which is a week earlier compared to taking the longer route via the Cape of Good Hope. A second Suez passage eastbound is scheduled for the CMA CGM ZHENG HE a week later, although subsequent sailings

The long position holders also entered liquidation mode as the new quotations from the liners continue to disappoint with quotation for last week of October lowered to $1500 per FEU. EC2510, which is trading at 7% premium to the latest SCFIS, is testing the 1,100 level. The recent low of this contract was 1,050 on 19 September.

Futures traders in Shanghai maintain their risk-off mode—further liquidation by short sellers pushed prices higher. EC2510 dropped as diverging quotations among liners again cast doubt on the mid-October GRI. The new Chinese Port Dues targeting ships owned or controlled by US interests affect only 6 ships or 1.6% of the capacity currently deployed in the Far East to North Europe route.

Classical risk off rally today starting from the afternoon session: big price move but also a lot of liquidation. So most of the buy trades were just short covering. The news was China's big port due on US related vessels kick in today, which may force the carries to withdraw some capacity etc. What may have gone unnoticed in the market was the Maersk listed $1,800 per FEU for the 30 Oct i.e. the first week of November, which is even lower than the freight rates that it quoted for the shipments

There were more sell-offs today, but overall trading volume was lighter than yesterday but still showed better speculative interest comparing to what we have seen seen in the past month. Open interest rebounded above 70,000. SCFI-EUR jumped 10% after the market, reflecting liner quotations, though cracks remain apparent as several carriers have extended their current rates into the third week of October.