Recent headlines of a new record being set in the charter market where a 2 756-TEU boxship has been fixed for 50 days at $175 000 a day brings into sharp focus the scramble for capacity by shipping lines as demand continues to exceed supply.
“Lines are eager to expand capacity, and when there’s a scramble for capacity, it makes sense that they need to go into the charter market,” Xeneta chief analyst Peter Sand said during an online briefing.
“In January only 10 new ships were delivered to new owners, and in March we should experience the same number as in January and February.”
More capacity is on its way, which could mean that service providers could get a better deal from carriers.
“But it could also be a signal that high markets won’t go away and could even persist into Q3.”
