Source: UNCTAD and MDS Transmodal. Note: 2006=100. Represents the average per port.
The deployment of containerships is following three separate trends:
- Technical. Following the principle of economies of scale and ongoing demand from international trade, the deployed capacity has more than doubled between 2006 and 2025. This is particularly evident in the size of the largest container ship.
- Geographical. The number of container ports being called to has slightly increased, implying that port forelands are well established, if not mature, in the majority of regions. There is also a general decline in direct connections, implying a shift towards well-established transshipment hubs with feeder services.
- Operational. In direct response to technical trends, operational trends indicate a decline in weekly calls, the number of shipping services, and the number of shipping lines. This is illustrative of the segmentation of services between deepsea services and feeder services.