Global container ship order volumes have climbed to their highest level since 2009, with Maersk and CMA CGM each confirming substantial vessel procurement programmes that underscore the sustained fleet expansion ambitions driving the industry forward.
In mid-September, Maersk confirmed an order for 26 container vessels of 18,600 TEU each, representing a combined capacity of approximately 483,600 TEU, with deliveries scheduled between 2029 and 2030.
The order forms part of with Maersk’s ongoing fleet renewal strategy, with all vessels equipped with dual-fuel engines capable of operating on liquefied gas.
Public disclosures indicate that 20 of the vessels will be constructed by China’s Hengli Heavy Industry, with the remaining six assigned to New Times Shipbuilding.
This latest commitment is not Maersk’s first major container ship order of the year.
In February, the Danish carrier signed an agreement with New Times Shipbuilding for eight vessels of the same 18,600 TEU specification, also targeting 2029-2030 delivery windows, with Maersk designating that order as part of the same fleet renewal initiative.
According to the latest data from Linerlytica, CMA CGM is planning to order 12 ultra-large container vessels of 24,000 TEU, likewise fitted with dual-fuel propulsion systems and targeted for delivery between 2029 and 2030.
Should the order be confirmed, CMA CGM’s outstanding orderbook would represent approximately 45% of its existing fleet capacity.
It should be noted, however, that unlike Maersk’s confirmed 26-vessel order, the CMA CGM programme has not been accompanied by an official announcement and remains at the level of industry media reporting.
The two carriers’ new orders add further weight to an already substantial global orderbook.
Linerlytica data indicates that current outstanding container ship orders stand at 1,925 vessels, totalling approximately 15.6 million TEU.
The ratio of orderbook capacity to total fleet capacity has surpassed 45% – a level not seen since 2009 – and aggregate orderbook capacity now exceeds twice the post-pandemic peak of 7.6 million TEU recorded in August 2023.
Hapag-Lloyd Expands African Network with New Offices in Namibia, Rwanda and Burundi
Hamburg-based ocean carrier Hapag-Lloyd will open new offices serving Namibia, Rwanda and Burundi from October 1, 2026, strengthening its organization across Southern and East Africa and bringing local market expertise closer to cargo owners who depend on reliable, visible transit.
The expansion establishes a new Hapag-Lloyd office in Walvis Bay, Namibia, giving the company its first local presence in the market.
In East Africa, a new setup in Kigali will serve customers in both Rwanda and Burundi, extending the carrier’s reach into two land-locked markets and linking them to its regional and global liner network.
The moves reinforce a clear objective for shippers and forwarders operating in the region: tighter coordination between local teams and Hapag-Lloyd’s wider network, supporting more dependable schedules, closer customer support, and stronger visibility across increasingly complex supply chains.
Africa continues to play a larger role in global trade, supported by growing economies, expanding trade flows, and deeper connections with markets worldwide.
Evolving supply chains and rising demand for reliable international connectivity are opening new opportunities for businesses across the continent – and raising expectations for carriers to combine local knowledge with global reach.
For cargo owners, that combination matters.
Local teams understand the regulatory requirements, documentation demands, and market conditions that shape total landed costs and lead times.
Pairing that expertise with a global network helps reduce friction where delays and added costs most often appear.
For Rwanda and Burundi, the new Kigali presence builds on connectivity Hapag-Lloyd already provides in East Africa.
Through the port of Dar es Salaam, the company runs two weekly services supporting both imports and exports, with direct connections to India and the Far East.
The Kigali setup complements this network by bringing customer support and market expertise closer to businesses in both land- locked countries – a practical advantage for importers and exporters managing inventory, cash flow and customs clearance across borders.
“Strengthening our presence in Namibia, Rwanda and Burundi is an important milestone in the continued development of Hapag- Lloyd in Africa,” said Jesper Kanstrup, Managing Director Sub-Region Africa at Hapag- Lloyd.
“Africa is a highly diverse continent, and serving our customers successfully requires a strong understanding of the individual markets in which they operate.
By strengthening our presence, we combine local industry knowledge and customer proximity with the reach of Hapag-Lloyd’s global network.
Each market offers different opportunities, and this expansion reflects our long-term commitment to our customers and to Africa.”
CMA CGM Announces Two October Rate Adjustments Covering China East Africa and Asia-Mediterranean/North Africa Trades
CMA CGM has issued two separate rate adjustment notices for October, targeting the China- East Africa trade lane and the Asia- Mediterranean and North Africa corridors – signalling a deliberate recalibration of its pricing framework across two strategically significant routes.
Effective 15 October and until further notice, CMA CGM will implement a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) on all cargo moving from China to East Africa.
The surcharge is structured by destination and origin: shipments bound for Mombasa, Kenya, will be assessed at a flat rate of USD 800 per TEU, while cargo destined for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, will attract USD 550 per TEU from South China origins and USD 600 per TEU from North and Central China origins.
Concurrently, CMA CGM has announced revised Freight All Kinds (FAK) rates on the Asia- Mediterranean and North Africa trades, valid from 19 to 31 October.
FAK rates represent a unified tariff applied uniformly across cargo categories, irrespective of commodity type.
The revised FAK structure covers all major Asian load ports to Mediterranean-range destinations – encompassing the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, and North Africa – and applies to dry cargo, refrigerated cargo, out of gauge shipments, and merchant- owned empty containers.
The new rates incorporate base ocean freight, bunker-related surcharges, the Emissions Trading System (ETS) levy, and the Low Sulphur Surcharge (LSS); terminal handling charges, security surcharges, and related accessorials remain additional.
Both adjustments form part of CMA CGM’s latest published tariff notifications.
Freight forwarders and shippers operating on the affected trades are advised to confirm.
OOCL Launches New Transpacific Latin Atlantic Service 3 (TLA3)
OOCL announced the launch of its new Transpacific Latin Atlantic Service 3 (TLA3), a direct connection designed strengthen network coverage and improve service frequency between the Far East and the East Coast of South America.
Commencing in mid-December 2026, TLA3 links three major Chinese gateways with four key South American markets, giving cargo owners, forwarders, and importers a reliable new route for their most time-sensitive trade lanes.
As a member of the Orient Over-seas Container Line network, OOCL continues to expand the geographic reach of its liner services across major global trade corridors.
The introduction of TLA3 reinforces that trajectory, adding dedicated capacity on a lane that supports commodity flows, finished goods, and manufacturing inputs moving between Asia and South America.
For businesses managing expansion into these growing markets, the service offers a dependable schedule that helps protect delivery commitments and reduce planning uncertainty.
TLA3 directly connects the key Chinese gateways of Ningbo, Shanghai, and Shekou with major South American East Coast markets: Santos and Navegantes in Brazil, Montevideo in Uruguay, and Buenos Aires in Argentina.
By covering Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina within a single rotation, the service consolidates multiple destination markets onto one predictable loop, supporting cost control, inventory planning, and efficient route utilization for high-volume shippers.
The full TLA3 service rotation is as follows:
Ningbo> Shanghai > Shekou > Singapore > Santos > Navegantes > Montevideo > Buenos Aires > Navegantes > Santos > Coega* > Singapore > Hong Kong*> Ningbo.
*Ports marked with an asterisk are subject to final confirmation.
By pairing broad market coverage with a structured, repeatable schedule, TLA3 positions OOCL to serve the demands of customers who depend on reliability and visibility across long-haul trade from lanes.
The new service is not simply an additional route – it is a deliberate expansion of OOCL’s commitment to advancing connectivity between Asia and South America.
ONE to Update Emergency Fuel Surcharge Quantum Across Trade Lanes Effective 1 November 2026
Ocean Network Express (ONE), one of the world’s largest container shipping carriers with a global network connecting more than 120 countries, will update the quantum of its Emergency Fuel Surcharge (EFS) across its trade lanes.
The revised surcharge takes effect on 1 November 2026 and will remain in place until further notice.
The update applies to both Non-FMC Regulated Trades and FMC Regulated Trades.
The latter covers shipments to and from the United States, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Guam, Saipan, and Hawaii, as well as Canada.
Both categories share the same effective date of 1 November 2026, giving customers a single, consistent timeline to plan against.
ONE has advised that the adjustment is subject to any required regulatory approvals and notice ow periods where applicable.
For trades governed by the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) and equivalent Canadian requirements, the carrier will follow the prescribed filing and notice procedures before the revised quantum applies.
The EFS mechanism allows ONE to recover fuel-related cost fluctuations that fall outside standard freight rates, reflecting prevailing bunker prices and market conditions.
By publishing the revised quantum ahead of the effective date, the carrier gives customers the information they need to plan with confidence.
Further details, including the specific surcharge amounts per trade lane and equipment type, are available through ONE’s local offices, appointed agents, and the carrier’s official customer channels.
Customers are encouraged to review the published figures relevant to their routes ahead of the 1 November 2026 effective date.
DP World expands container terminal in Angola
The terminal operator DP World has been granted an extension to its concession at the Port of Luanda.
The company is planning a $90 million expansion of the terminal.
The concession for the multipurpose terminal in the port of Luanda, the capital of Angola, has been extended by ten years.
DP World will therefore remain active in Luanda until at least 2051.
The company has been operating in Angola since 2021 – and has invested more than $260 million in upgrading and modernising the terminal since it began operations.
According to DP World, the terminal’s total cargo throughput has almost doubled over the past five years- from 177,000 to over 350,000 TEU-supported by an additional 28,000 m2 of storage space.
To accomodate this growth, DP World acquired two further mobile harbour cranes (MHCs) and an additional empty container stacker this year; bringing the total number of MHCS to eight, whilst the number of reefer container connections has been increased from 630 to 700.
At the inauguration of the new terminal building at the Port of Luanda, DP World announced a further investment of $90 million over the next two years to further expand and improve the terminal’s infrastructure, equipment and operational capacities.
The planned expansion will extend the quay wall by 222 m and increase the operational area by 10 ha, whilst raising the terminal’s design capacity to 1.2 million TEU.
Combined with the acquisition of three ship-to-shore (STS) cranes and twelve semi-automatic, rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes, this will enable the terminal to handle two Post-Panamax vessels simultaneously. According to DP World, this will consolidate Luanda’s position as a leading container hub for Central Africa and as a major trading centre in sub-Saharan Africa.
Furthermore, the expansion promotes local employment and industrialisation, improves competitiveness in exports and helps to attract foreign investment to develop sustainable regional trade flows.
“The expansion of DP World Luanda is an important milestone both for Angola and for the wider region,” said Mohammed Akoojee, CEO and Managing Director for Africa at DP World.
“The ability to handle larger vessels will support new shipping services and strengthen the terminal’s potential as a gateway for West and Central Africa.
Our investment will improve the efficiency and sustainability of trade flows, giving customers greater reliability, shorter turnaround times and improved access to global markets, and reinforcing Angola’s prominent role within our regional and global logistics network.”
Paco Pinzon, CEO of DP World Luanda, added: “Having our concession extended to 2051 demonstrates our long-term commitment to Angola and its future as a leading regional trade gateway.
Our continued investments will create a more efficient and competitive experience for our customers, while supporting Angola’s ambitions to strengthen trade connectivity, diversify the economy and become a continental logistics hub.
The expansion will benefit the entire logistics ecosystem, and we will continue to create opportunities, strengthen regional connectivity and contribute to sustainable economic growth in Angola.”