Containership charter rates at a four-year high despite record orderbook

Containership charter rates have climbed to their highest level in four years, despite falling fixtures, and a record orderbook pointing to a major influx of capacity in 2028.

Braemar’s charter index is at 325.8, up 21% year on year and its highest level since autumn 2022. Meanwhile, the number of fixtures between 1 January and 17 October was down 15% year on year, at 853, while capacity fixed declined 10%, to 2.54m teu.

“A few weeks back we showed a record orderbook and a 2028 delivery wave the size of the 2002 fleet. You would expect charterers to be sitting back and waiting. They are not,” says today’s report.

The martime consultancy said the apparent contradiction reflected a shortage of prompt tonnage, with owners having secured long-term employment for vessels during 2024 and 2025.

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