The global container equipment fleet grew 8.5% in 2011, taking the fleet to 31.25 million TEUs, according to the latest Container Census report.

The Drewry Maritime Research's annual report on the world's container equipment fleet says the growth was better than expected as demand for new builds was impacted from the second quarter of 2011, with production "significantly curtailed" since then.

The world's container equipment fleet grew about 7% in 2010.

According to analysis in Container Census 2012 - Survey and Forecast of Global Container Units, up to 70% of 2011 net additions were made in the first six months of the year, highlighting distinct uneven progress. 



"The underlying reason for the slowdown in the latter half of 2011 was an apparent misreading of demand. Few buyers predicted an over-supply (900,000 TEUs at mid-2011, and over 500,000 TEUs end-2011) that was exacerbated by a weak peak season," the report says.

Report author Andrew Foxcroft forecasts annual container fleet growth will be in the order of 7% from 2012-2015, as shipping companies continue to adopt a tight container/slot operating ratio, while increasing replacement purchase, compared to 2010/11. 



Fleet growth since 2009 has continued to be dominated by leasing companies which have posted growth (in TEU terms) of 10.6% in 2011 and 9% in 2009, compared to shipping lines and other transport companies that registered growths of 7% and 5.7%, the report says.