Last year, a staggering 572 containerships changed hands. A total of 1.94 million TEUs were sold and bought, according to Alphaliner. The consulting firm reports that for the first time, the 1.6 million TEU mark has been topped.
As the top shipping publications, like The Loadstar, have reported, the most active global carrier was MSC, which invested $2 billion dollars in second-hand tonnage last year. The group purchased 132 second-hand ships, totaling 453,000 TEUs. A silver medal goes to CMA CGM, who bought 46, or 150,000 TEUs.
According to Alphaliner, in the short to medium term operators’ confidence in the S&P market appears to have been rewarded, as predictions of a downturn in the market have never come true. They forecast that the current supply chain chaos will last throughout 2022 at least, which could even justify purchases with delivery delayed until this year.
Translation by Giles Foster
