The world's container lease fleet grew by 10.6% in 2011 on the back of a continued robust industry performance.

Drewry Maritime Research's latest annual Container Leasing Industry 2012/13 Report predicts growth of 9.5% for 2012, as lease demand is holding up well.

However, the expansion has been coloured by uneven patches when fleet growth almost stalled. This occurred in the latter half of 2011 and could happen again later in 2012. The report attributes this mainly to "changes in market demand and the operating dynamic of the global container industry market", which have occurred since the downturn of 2009.

The report says the poorer uptake of 2011, which came after an unprecedented upsurge during 2010, took the lease industry by surprise and quickly turned into an equipment oversupply. This did not correct for several months and was still not wholly redressed by mid-2012.

It was triggered by a poorer-than-expected peak season performance in mid-year 2011, plus the successful adoption of greater operating efficiencies by shipping companies.

Andrew Foxcroft, author of the Container Leasing Industry report, says:
"Leasing companies have also accounted for the majority of all new
investment, thereby ending a run of more than six years of shipping line domination.

"By contrast, the existing mix of publicly quoted and privately owned leasing firms, which make up the top ranks, have all along retained good access to competitive financing and continue to attract sizeable inward investment. Indeed, the interest forthcoming from both public and private investors has rarely been stronger."

"Container Leasing Industry Annual Review and Forecast 2012/13" will be available for sale from the Drewry website www.drewry.co.uk this month.