Growth in container shipping demand is at its lowest level since 2009 with volumes at the world’s top 30 container ports shrinking by 0.8% in the third quarter according to Alphaliner.

Year-on-year growth at the top 30 ports has slowed significantly as the year has progressed with the first quarter seeing 5.1% growth in volumes, the second quarter 0.6% and slipping in negative territory in the third quarter with a 0.8% drop. It is the first time container volumes have fallen since 2009.

Full year was forecast for the top 30 ports was forecast to be just 0.8% as the market weakened in the second half of the year.

“The absence of any peak season demand surge in 2015 has had significant repercussions in the market, as carriers struggled to fill ships amidst a record number of vessel deliveries,” Alphaliner said.

During 2015 some 212 new containerships have been delivered with a combined capacity of 1.71m teu.