A record total of 1.66 million TEU is to be delivered to the global fleet this year, an increase 8.2 per cent the biggest jump 2010.

While the number of ships has not grown as high in recent years, capacity delivered this year has been pumped up by mega box ships. Year-to-date each delivery averages 8,320 TEU, compared to 7,407 TEU in 2014, reports the Shipping Herald.

On the other hand, deliveries into the sub-8,000 TEU sizes this year are expected to fall to their lowest levels in 20 years, with the fleet projected to expand by under one per cent in 2015.

Box ship demolition this year is forecast to reach its lowest ebb since 2011, and the slowdown in scrapping appears to be the biggest contributor to the acceleration in fleet growth this year.

Stronger containership earnings earlier in 2015, combined with depressed scrap values, have limited box ship demolition sales in the year so far.

Scrapping in the panamax sector was particularly low earlier in 2015, relative to the previous two years. Consequently, 170,000 TEU is expected to be sold for scrap this year, representing a decrease of 50 per cent compared to 2014.

Overall, demolition in 2015 is expected to total 210,000 TEU less than in 2014.

As a result of negligible deliveries and some demolition sales, the panamax fleet is expected to contract by two per cent in TEU terms in 2015, while the 3,000-7,999 TEU postpanamax sector is projected to grow just three per cent.