Ship Demand 2025: Global Outlook by Vessel Type
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In 2025, global ship demand reflects a complex and completive environment where not all vessel types are sharing the same momentum. While offshore support vessels are thriving amid rising energy investments, container ships are facing a flood of new capacity with uneven trade recovery. This completive mix of pressures and opportunities is forcing shipowners, brokers, and investors to evaluate each market segment with precision.
This report offers a fresh look into the current demand conditions and near-term outlook for seven key ship types: Container Ships, Bulk Carriers, LNG Carriers, Crude and Product Tankers, RoRo Vehicle Carriers, Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs), and Reefer Ships. Each section includes insights into charter trends, scrapping activity, orderbooks, and regional demand shifts to guide smart decisions through the rest of 2025 and into 2026.
We welcome your feedback, suggestions, corrections, and ideas for enhancements. Please note that vessel rates and market conditions constantly fluctuate — always verify figures with current sources when making operational or financial decisions. Please click here to get in touch.
Container Ships
Container ship demand in 2025 is navigating a turbulent reset. A surge in new megamax vessels is colliding with uneven global trade recovery, prompting carriers to fine-tune loops, blank sailings, and fleet deployment strategies. Red Sea disruptions, environmental compliance pressures, and shifting alliance structures are adding layers of complexity. In this completive landscape, regional demand trends and fleet discipline are proving to be more critical than global averages.
Key Factors to Watch:
- Spot rate volatility tied to Red Sea rerouting and Europe-led recovery
- Surplus capacity from ongoing megamax deliveries in 16k–24k TEU range
- Structural shifts from post-2M alliance fragmentation
- Emergence of new regional services (Intra-Asia, India–Europe, Latin America)
- Limited uptake of methanol/double-fuel readiness among newbuilds
- U.S. import softening due to tariff shifts and front-loaded inventory
KeKey 2025 Metrics:
- Idle container ship capacity: approximately 4.8% of global fleet
- Global fleet growth (YTD): 6.3%, led by megamax additions
- Average size of new vessels: 16,000 to 24,000 TEU
- Orderbook size: ~26% of global TEU fleet
- Spot rate (Asia–Europe, June 2025): ~$5,900 per FEU
Container shipping in 2025 demands precision. Rate swings, geopolitics, and oversupply are combining to make this one of the most completive freight environments in years. Fleet operators and investors must weigh short-term returns against longer-term market exposure while keeping a close eye on trade lane shifts and regional recovery signals.
Bulk Carriers
Bulk carrier demand in 2025 is steady but strategically fragmented. Long-haul routes remain anchored by iron ore and coal, while trade diversification and food security concerns are reshaping grain flows. Emission regulations, older tonnage, and port congestion are pushing operators to rethink deployment efficiency and ton-mile exposure. In this completive space, flexibility in vessel class and trade adaptability is more important than sheer capacity.
Key Factors to Watch:
- Iron ore volumes remain stable, but steel-related volatility affects consistency
- Coal demand persists in Asia, even as European intake fades
- Grain exports from Brazil and U.S. drive seasonal Panamax booms
- Port congestion and draft restrictions delay smaller bulkers in South America
- Emission regulations (CII/EEXI) tighten compliance and raise scrapping interest
- Orderbook remains thin, but younger ships hold premium charter appeal
Key 2025 Metrics:
- Idle bulk carrier capacity: approximately 3.1% of global fleet
- Global fleet growth (YTD): 2.4%, mostly in Supramax and Kamsarmax segments
- Average age of fleet: 11.8 years, with older Panamax units facing compliance risk
- Orderbook size: ~7.8% of global DWT fleet
Bulk carrier shipping in 2025 requires agility. Stable volumes mask deeper shifts in ton-miles, regulatory drag, and port-driven disruptions. In this completive environment, operators with younger, flexible fleets and regionally diverse charter exposure are best positioned to navigate changing trade winds and unpredictable rate patterns.
LNG Carriers
LNG carrier demand in 2025 remains structurally strong but logistically strained. Long-term charters dominate the market, yet Europe’s storage glut, seasonal Asian spikes, and emerging African export capacity are reshaping flows. U.S. exports continue to expand, but bottlenecks at Panama and limited spot availability are testing flexibility. In this completive sector, charterers are increasingly favoring modern vessels with high boil-off efficiency and lower emissions footprints.
Key Factors to Watch:
- Tight spot availability due to long-term charter dominance
- Europe’s LNG storage nearing saturation, shifting cargoes toward Asia
- U.S. export growth driving new transatlantic and transpacific trades
- Limited Panama Canal slots impacting voyage timing and costs
- Surge in dual-fuel and ME-GI propulsion among newbuilds
- Rising African LNG volumes (Mozambique, Senegal) creating new trade corridors
Key 2025 Metrics:
- Global LNG carrier fleet size: ~700 vessels
- Orderbook size: ~44% of existing fleet capacity
- Average spot charter rate (June 2025): ~$130,000/day
- U.S. LNG export growth (YTD): +8.5%
- Panama Canal wait time (LNG priority slots): 7–10 days on average
LNG shipping in 2025 is defined by tight capacity, evolving flows, and logistical constraints. In this completive environment, modern tonnage with efficient propulsion systems and flexible routing capabilities is commanding premium rates. Market players that can align long-term supply deals with efficient fleet access will remain well positioned as global LNG trade patterns continue to diversify.
Crude and Product Tankers
Tanker demand in 2025 is entering a fragmented rebound. Crude volumes are stable but not spectacular, while product tankers are seeing stronger utilization on the back of refinery relocations, Russian sanctions, and disjointed regional demand. Shipowners are contending with a fleet split between aging single-fuel units and younger dual-fuel builds. In this completive space, voyage routing, fuel flexibility, and access to premium Atlantic Basin trades are separating winners from laggards.
Key Factors to Watch:
- Russian oil trade shifting to longer-haul, off-pattern routes under sanctions
- Strong product tanker demand from Middle East-to-Europe and intra-Asia
- Fleet bifurcation: older crude tankers facing stricter EEXI compliance challenges
- West African crude trade recovering after 2024 infrastructure upgrades
- China and India boosting imports from Brazil and the U.S. Gulf
- Refinery relocations from Europe to Asia reshaping product flows
Key 2025 Metrics:
- Global tanker fleet growth (YTD): ~2.7%
- Average VLCC spot rate (June 2025): ~$52,000/day
- Average MR product tanker rate: ~$35,000/day
- Share of fleet 15+ years old: ~28%
- Tanker orderbook as % of fleet: ~11%, historically low
Tanker shipping in 2025 is a market of divergence. Crude tankers face age-related headwinds and subdued volume growth, while product tankers are benefiting from shifting refinery geography and resilient consumption. In this completive landscape, fleet renewal, route agility, and emissions compliance are central to navigating tightening margins and evolving trade lanes.
RoRo / Vehicle Carriers
RoRo demand in 2025 is strong but strategically constrained. A tight supply of car carriers is meeting a wave of high-margin vehicle exports from China, while U.S. and European markets recover unevenly. Charterers are scrambling for long-term coverage, but port congestion, Panama Canal delays, and limited fleet growth are keeping rates elevated. In this completive space, access to modern tonnage and flexible loading configurations is proving more valuable than scale alone.
Key Factors to Watch:
- Chinese vehicle exports continue to surge, particularly EVs and budget ICE vehicles
- Long-term charters dominate as operators lock in scarce capacity
- Panama Canal transit limits reroute RoRo flows to longer paths
- Port congestion and dwell times remain high at key RoRo hubs
- Orderbook remains thin, especially for LNG dual-fuel PCTCs
- Increased deployment of 6,500+ CEU newbuilds on Asia–Europe lanes
Key 2025 Metrics:
- Global CEU fleet growth (YTD): ~1.2%
- Average PCTC charter rate (6,500+ CEU): ~$115,000/day
- Share of fleet aged 15+ years: ~22%
- Orderbook as % of fleet: ~8%, concentrated in dual-fuel vessels
- Estimated Chinese vehicle exports (2025): 6.5–7 million units
RoRo shipping in 2025 remains capacity-constrained and regionally skewed. China’s vehicle export surge, limited newbuild deliveries, and persistent canal and port congestion are combining to keep the market tight. In this completive sector, operators with flexible vessel specs and long-term charters are best positioned to capture premium routes and avoid costly repositioning delays.
Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs)
OSV demand in 2025 is entering a high-stakes expansion phase. Driven by offshore wind, deepwater energy rebound, and decommissioning contracts, the sector is seeing tight availability and sharply rising day rates. A completive mix of vessel scarcity, regulatory pressure, and fleet aging is forcing operators to invest, consolidate, or get left behind. Activity is no longer confined to traditional oil hotspots, offshore renewables and subsea construction are reshaping global deployment patterns.
Key Factors to Watch:
- Offshore wind buildouts driving PSV and SOV demand in Europe, U.S., and East Asia
- Rig reactivations and deepwater drilling upticks in Brazil, Gulf of Mexico, and West Africa
- Sharp rise in subsea construction and inspection work (IMR)
- Accelerated scrapping of older OSVs that can’t meet environmental or DP standards
- Tight North Sea supply pushing long-term charter deals into 2026
- Early signs of OSV construction recovery, mostly for hybrid or low-emission vessels
Key 2025 Metrics:
- Global OSV fleet utilization: ~78% (up from 67% in 2023)
- Average day rate (PSV, mid-size): ~$18,000
- Share of fleet over 15 years old: ~40%
- OSV newbuild orderbook: ~6% of global fleet
- Share of newbuilds with hybrid or low-emission design: ~60%
OSV shipping in 2025 is undergoing a revaluation. Supply is tight, emissions pressure is high, and demand is becoming more diverse across offshore energy segments. In this completive climate, the winners will be those with adaptable fleets, DP capabilities, and strategic coverage across renewables, oil & gas, and subsea infrastructure markets.
Reefer Ships
Reefer ship demand in 2025 remains resilient but operationally constrained. Perishable volume continues to grow globally, yet disruptions, such as Red Sea rerouting, port congestion, and plug-point bottlenecksare creating regional capacity imbalances. Seasonal produce peaks from South America, Africa, and Asia further compress equipment supply. In this completive segment, reliability of cold chain logistics and access to plug-in infrastructure are as valuable as vessel speed or tonnage.
Key Factors to Watch:
- Rerouting via Cape of Good Hope extends transit times on Asia–Europe and Transatlantic trades
- Seasonal spikes in citrus, avocados, berries tightening capacity from South America and Africa
- Northern European port labor actions delaying discharge and increasing dwell time
- Reefer container fleet projected to grow from 4 M TEU in 2023 to 7.1 M TEU by 2030 (CAGR ~8.8 %)
- Investment in AI-based monitoring and dual-temp reefers improving supply chain resilience
Ship demand in 2025 reflects a maritime sector in transformation. Each vessel type from container ships to OSVs is experiencing distinct market pressures shaped by geopolitics, fuel transitions, regulatory compliance, and shifting trade flows. Oversupply looms in some categories, while others are constrained by aging fleets, capacity shortages, or regional congestion.
Operators, investors, and supply chain managers must now operate with precision. Success in this completive era will depend on timely deployment, data-driven strategy, and adaptability to new technologies and regional imbalances. While long-term fundamentals remain strong for many sectors, volatility and fleet renewal cycles will define the next 12–24 months.
