Global containership capacity is expected to increase 4.6 percent in 2016, the slowest rate in more than 25 years.

This comes as a relief to a sector plagued with by oversupply, consultancy firm Alphaliner forecast on Tuesday.

Freight rates have plunged, driving many shipping companies into losses, as global trade has failed to keep pace with the number of new vessels entering the market in recent years.

"Falling below the previously smallest year-on-year increase of 5.5 percent, recorded in 2009, it will register well below the average annual growth rate of 10.3 percent, recorded since 1990," Alphaliner said.

The balance between demand and supply will improve as new vessel deliveries from shipyards slow down and a growing number of container ships are scheduled for demolition, said the Paris consultancy.

Before the financial crisis in 2008, container transport demand was increasing at about three times the rate of global economic growth. Since 2010, that ratio has been just 1.1, shipping organisation Bimco said.

With the International Monetary Fund expecting world economic growth of 3.4 percent in 2016, that would suggest container demand of between 3.5 percent and four percent - signalling the industry is still in for a torrid year.

"The new normal level of demand is somewhat lower than originally expected - just as global GDP growth keeps disappointing us," said Bimco shipping analyst Peter Sand.