small ships

Container shipping shifts to smaller vessels as orderbook nears 13m TEU, Alphaliner reports

The global containership orderbook has reached 12.98m TEU across 1,592 vessels, according to Alphaliner. Since July 2025, 74% of new orders have been for ships below 6,500 TEU, a sharp reversal from the post-pandemic megaship boom. The shift reflects growing focus on regional and feeder markets where aging fleets need replacement, though the sub-6,500 TEU orderbook still lags replacement needs.