Scrap sales of container vessels have hit record lows in the first half of 2025, as strong freight and charter markets keep older tonnage in service. Only 10 ships totaling 5,454 TEU were sold for demolition—a sharp decline from even the weak figures of 2024.
Market Resilience Deters Demolition
With no idle capacity and global trade staying robust, owners prefer to retain older vessels rather than scrap them. Contributing factors include:
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Lucrative market conditions due to Cape of Good Hope diversions
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Continued global cargo flow stability
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Lessons from past disruptions (e.g., COVID, Red Sea tensions, strikes)
Operators are holding on to surplus tonnage to buffer against future uncertainties.
Only Small Ships Recycled
Demolition sales were limited to sub-1,000 TEU vessels, with the largest being the 803 TEU SOLONG, scrapped after a fire following a collision off the UK.
With freight rates high and charter demand strong, shipowners are in no rush to recycle older vessels. The current market rewards capacity retention over retirement—pushing container ship scrapping to historic lows in early 2025.
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Source: Alphaliner
