Written by A total of 62 neo-panamax ships (NPX) in the size range of 13,000 to 16,550 teu will enter
service in the course of 2023. These ships represent a capacity of 928,000 teu or 39% of all
new teu slots being added to the fleet this year.
Nineteen of these new neo-panamaxes have already joined Asia – North America services
(seven on the Transpacific and twelve in Asia—USEC loops), representing 30.1% of this
years’ new NPX capacity.
Thirteen others are now trading between Asia and Europe (nine to the Med and four to North
Europe). They account for 21.6% of this years’ NPX newbuildings. This brings the total for
East-West routes to 51.7%.
Fifteen ships (23.9%) have been assigned to North-South services from Asia to Latin
America (nine ships), Africa (three) or the Middle East and the Indian Subcontent (three).
The percentage of new NPX capacity assigned to North-South services is expected to further
increase as fifteen yet-to-be-delivered newbuildings (24.4%) have not appeared in sailing
schedules yet. Ship names as CMA CGM BAHIA or COSCO SHIPPING BRAZIL however
suggest that these vessels will likely end up in Asia – Latin America loops.
MSC has been the most active carrier when it comes to directing NPX tonnage to North-
South routes (nine vessels so far this year). This is however not surprising as MSC is taking
the highest number of new neo-panamaxes in service. The Geneva-based carrier will receive
27 NPX units in total this year, followed by Wan Hai (ten units) and ZIM (seven).
According to Alphaliner data, already 30.5% of all active ships of 12,500 – 15,200 teu are
trading on North-South routes, up from 19.6% in September last year. Two years ago this
percentage stood at only 15.8%.