The global container fleet capacity increased by 7,3% from January to December, reaching 33,2 million TEUs (Mteu), representing the addition of 2,27 Mteu slots to the fleet during this period. Most of the new capacity was allocated to traffic related to the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent (607.430 TEU slots).

Meanwhile, liner services to and from Sub-Saharan Africa reached 575.410 TEUs, and the Far East-Europe route reached 451.074 TEUs. “An analysis of the global fleet deployment carried out earlier this year had already highlighted these three rapidly growing traffic routes,” Alphaliner pointed out.

“Between May 2024 and May 2025, African services had expanded by 8,6%, those in the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent by 12%, and those in the Far East – Europe by 11,7%,” he added.

Six months later, however, these percentages have increased “spectacularly, with year-on-year growth of 27,3% for Sub-Saharan Africa, 14,9% to/from the Middle East and ISC, and 6,1% in the Far East – Europe,” the consultancy noted.

Far East–Europe and the return of capacity

“This last one remains, by far, the largest route in global liner shipping, deploying a fleet capacity of 7,84 Mteu (23,6% of the total fleet),” he added.

The increased capacity would be mainly due to the reincorporation of the third Far East – Northern Europe loop of the OCEAN Alliance (NEU3), operated by sister companies Cosco Shipping Lines and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL).

“As some smaller carriers have withdrawn tonnage between the Far East and the Eastern Mediterranean or Russia, the average size of vessels has increased from 14.542 TEU in November 2024 to 14.761 TEU this year,” Alphaliner explained.

Africa and secondary routes gain prominence

“The main finding of our latest survey on global fleet deployment is that Africa and the Middle East/ISC are now by far the fastest-growing markets. For Africa-related services, the impressive 27,3% capacity growth is clearly linked to the Asia-Africa segment,” he emphasized.

Capacity on the Europe-West Africa route stood at 338.760 TEU last month, an increase of approximately 29.800 TEU or 9,6% year-on-year. However, the fleet deployed between Asia and West Africa reached 1,32 million TEU, an increase of 494.800 TEU or 60% compared to November of last year.

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) played a significant role in introducing 24.000 TEU megamax vessels into its Far East – West Africa (Africa Express) service in February 2025, replacing 14.000 – 16.000 TEU tonnages.

Last September, the Geneva-based shipping company further increased its presence on the Far East – West Africa route by launching an additional Far East – Central and West Africa (Iroko) service, targeting other African ports and deploying a mix of 4.850 – 9.400 TEU vessels.

Adding Southeast Asia to the capacity of East and Southern Africa, Asia-Africa capacity (excluding ME/ISC-Africa) represented a fleet of almost 2,2 million TEUs, compared to 1,4 million TEUs a year ago (+54,3%). All African services related to Sub-Saharan Africa now account for 8,1% of the global container fleet (2,68 million TEUs).

“Although the two main East-West traffic routes from the Far East to Europe and North America still account for 39,3% of the global container fleet deployment (41,2% last year), cargo growth is now clearly much stronger on secondary routes,” the consultancy said.

“In fact, the Transpacific is the only major trade area showing a year-over-year decrease in capacity (-2,9%). Donald Trump’s trade tariff policies have caused significant volatility in spot market rates, leading to the exit of some smaller carriers and fleet reductions by some of the major operators,” he explained.

The Transatlantic remains the smallest of the three East-West traffics, but saw its capacity increase by 159.040 TEU slots (+15% year-on-year).

“Once again, market leader MSC played a key role here. As the Far East-Europe and Europe-North America routes have their main cargo legs westbound, the Swiss shipping company converted two Far East-Europe loops into Round-the-World (RTW) services. This brought 13.000–15.600 TEU vessels to the North Atlantic to replace 4.500–9.200 TEU vessels (westbound only),” Alphaliner concluded.