Carriers Trim Capacity As Low Demand Expected Post-CNY

Ocean carriers have once again announced a series of blanked sailings, as the period following Chinese New Year shows signs of subdued demand.

With factories across China closed for the traditional two-week holiday, shipping lines have already reduced schedules for February and March. The adjustments reflect expectations of a seasonal slowdown in cargo volumes across the principal east–west trade routes.

Market data shows that 136 scheduled departures on the main corridors — including transpacific, Asia–Europe and transatlantic services — have been withdrawn this month. Bookings eased earlier than anticipated in the run-up to Chinese New Year, prompting carriers to revise their plans.

The transpacific trade has seen the most pronounced decline. January volumes were reportedly 7.5% lower than in the same month last year, with continuing US tariff pressures weighing on import demand and altering established shipping patterns.

Carriers have already announced more than fifty blank sailings for March to better balance capacity with demand. While some carriers are optimistic about a repeat of last year’s early peak-season, projections indicate that growth could remain modest for much of 2026.

Meanwhile, fleet capacity continues to expand. Orders for new container vessels have reached record levels and now account for approximately one third of the existing global fleet. Should deliveries proceed as planned, the gap between supply and demand may widen further.

Even so, the container shipping market remains unpredictable. Geopolitical tensions, route diversions, slow steaming, port congestion, any resumption of transits via the Suez Canal, and increased vessel scrapping could all materially alter the outlook in the months ahead.
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