S&P and Newbuilding Weekly 30 October 2026

Container shipping remains robust with 3.7 Mn TEU ordered in the first nine months of 2026, projected to reach nearly 5 Mn TEU for the year, only behind 2025's record. Despite extensive ordering, the market retains high earnings, exemplified by 8500TEU vessels fetching USD 80,000 per day. Geopolitical factors, such as ongoing tensions in the Middle East and supply chain pressures stemming from port congestion, underpin rates, exacerbated by Chinese export growth of 16 per cent to USD 3.4 Tr amid reduced capacity in the EU. Meanwhile, firm tanker asset values are evident, driven by a premium for prompt tonnage, with notable sales such as the Suezmax MT 'FLEVES' at USD 110 million highlighting this trend.