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Asian Shipowners Drive Newbuilding Momentum as Orders Surge Outside Europe

Shipowner appetite for new container vessels remains robust across Asia in 2026, with multiple carriers finalizing significant orders at regional yards. Evergreen, the world's seventh-largest shipping line, locked in an order for five 24,000 teu LNG dual-fuelled vessels at Guangzhou Shipyard International. Global Ship Lease, historically focused on secondhand tonnage, placed its first newbuilding order—eight 6,200 teu ships at Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering for 2029-2030 delivery. GSL's clients include the five largest shipping lines: MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, Cosco, and Hapag-Lloyd. Shanghai Changshun Shipping expanded into mid-sized boxships, ordering six 6,150 teu vessels at Yangzhou Guoyu Shipbuilding for $70 million each, with options for four additional units. The carrier also expects delivery of four 4,800 teu vessels ordered in early 2025, two of which are chartered to CMA CGM and China United Lines.