Alphaliner: New deliveries pinch rates

Alphaliner: New deliveries pinch rates    Record deliveries of new containerships in the next few months “is expected to add further downward pressure on freight rates and reverse the rise in charter rates,” Alphaliner said.
   The shipping information service in its latest newsletter excerpted here, said April will see a 32 ships with a record 226,500 TEUs capacity delivered and another 41 ships with 204,000 TEUs capacity in May.
   Total deliveries in 2011 are expected to reach 1.35 million TEUs, and Alphaliner said “the demand/supply balance is gradually moving against the ship owners' favor.”
   The increase in capacity comes at a time of slower growth at South China ports. Alphaliner said Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou recorded an aggregate volume growth of 2.4 percent in the first quarter, compared to 23.7 percent growth in the first quarter of 2010.