The past year, 2024, saw the third most second-hand purchases in history. MSC once again had the biggest appetite.
In view of strong freight and charter rates, the second-hand market for container ships also experienced a lively year. A total of 333 ships with a total capacity of 1.1 million TEU changed hands – significantly more than in the previous year. There were 285 units with 937,000 TEU.
MSC was once again the undisputedly most active buyer. The Aponte shipping company, No. 1 in global container liner shipping, added another 70 ships with 330,000 TEU to its fleet, reports Alphaliner.
This corresponded to almost a third of all second-hand tonnage traded. The Geneva-based company launched an unprecedented buying spree in August 2020. The symbolic threshold of 400 acquired container ships was already surpassed in November.
In comparison, the activities of other shipping companies seem almost modest. CMA CGM secured 15 second-hand freighters, HMM 10, followed by two German players: Peter Döhle expanded its fleet with six new additions, MPC Container Ships (MPCC) even acquired nine, although other ships were also sold.
On the seller side, the most active market participants also came from Germany: NSB and V Ships Hamburg each sold 12 ships. The Greek Capital Ship Management parted with 11 ships and Contships with nine feeders.
Feeders (900 TEU-2,000 TEU) were sold most frequently. Two-thirds of all units (68%) were 15 years or older, while only 4% were less than five years old. The average age was 16 years.
The further market and price development depends heavily on geopolitical influences, according to Alphaliner. As soon as the Suez route can be used on a large scale again, serious over-capacities could arise. On the one hand, around two million TEU will be added to newbuildings this year, and ships of roughly the same size that are currently still needed for the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope will become available. If rates and ship prices fall at the same time, a number of owners could accelerate the scrapping of older tonnage, which has almost come to a standstill recently.
