The world's biggest container shipping line Maersk Line  by capacity estimates  up to a 15% increase in container volumes from Asia to the rest of the world in early 2016, which could indicate that industry demand is on the rise, despite recent issues with weak demand and swelling overcapacity, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Robbert Van Trooijen, CEO of Maersk Line Asia Pacific, said, “There has been more demand certainly this time around than it was last year. That in itself is a positive sign of a good start to the year. What we don’t know yet is what will happen when the factories come back from collective holidays.”

The performance of the container-shipping industry, which carriers a wide range of consumer goods and industrial products, is considered an important barometer of the global economy, says the container shipping arm of Danish conglomerate AP Moller-Maersk A/S.

Overall shipping capacity for the industry rose 8% last year, with nearly all the newly-delivered ships idled, said Van Trooijen. He said it would take several years for the industry to reach a better balance between supply and demand.