Global container shipping patterns are undergoing major changes as carriers adopt high-frequency capacity adjustments, reported Athens' Safety4Sea.

Sea-Intelligence measured ��perational capacity churn��on Asia-North America and Asia-Europe trade lanes, showing carriers are moving away from stable vessel deployments. Capacity churn reflects the total tonnage entering and exiting a trade lane.

The Asia-North Europe trade lane saw churn reach 11 million TEU in 2025, far above the historical 3-5 million TEU norm recorded between 2012 and 2019. The figure was 138 per cent higher than 2023, highlighting unprecedented volatility.

Asia-North America West Coast churn hit a record 10.4 million TEU in 2025, a 32 per cent increase from 2024. Asia-Mediterranean churn reached 6.9 million TEU, up 80 per cent compared with 2023 and 21 per cent higher than 2024.

Asia-North America East Coast churn remained elevated at 6.6 million TEU, though its increase in 2025 was more gradual than other trade lanes. Sea-Intelligence said the data reflects a structural shift in how carriers deploy vessels across global markets.

https://www.shippingazette.com/news?news_id=9251200001089