Ocean carriers have continued to announced blanked sailings this month, with demand expected to be muted after the Chinese New Year period.
Factories across China are currently closed for the customary two-week holiday, and shipping lines have already scaled back on their February and March schedules. These adjustments reflect expectations of a seasonal easing in cargo volumes along the principal east–west trades.
According to market data, 136 scheduled departures on the key corridors — including the transpacific, Asia–Europe and transatlantic routes — have been withdrawn this month. Bookings softened earlier than expected in the lead-up to Chinese New Year, prompting carriers to revise their capacity plans.
The transpacific trade has experienced the sharpest downturn. January volumes were reportedly 7.5% lower than in the same month last year, as ongoing US tariff pressures continued to weigh on import demand and reshape established shipping patterns.
Carriers have already confirmed more than fifty blank sailings for March in an effort to align capacity more closely with demand. While some operators remain hopeful of an early peak season similar to last year’s, forecasts suggest growth may remain subdued for much of 2026.
At the same time, fleet capacity continues to expand. Orders for new container vessels have reached record levels and now represent roughly one third of the existing global fleet. If containership deliveries proceed as scheduled, the imbalance between supply and demand could widen further.
Nevertheless, the container shipping market remains highly unpredictable. Geopolitical tensions, route diversions, slow steaming, port congestion, any resumption of transits through the Suez Canal, and increased vessel scrapping could all materially influence the capacity outlook in the months ahead.