Reefer Container Production Stays Strong Despite 2025 Record

Reefer Container Production Stays Strong Despite 2025 Record

Global reefer container production is set to reach approximately 223,000 units by the end of 2026, maintaining high output levels as ocean carriers and lessors expand buffer stocks to mitigate persistent supply chain disruptions. While this figure falls slightly short of the 231,300 units produced during the 2025 record year, it represents a resilient market driven by the need to replace ageing equipment and navigate ongoing vessel diversions.

Data from the first nine months of the year shows 174,464 units manufactured, a 7% increase over the same period in 2025. Ocean carriers remain the primary drivers of this demand, accounting for 60.5% of deliveries. MSC led the sector with over 60,000 TEU, followed by CMA CGM with 39,000 TEU, Maersk with 34,000 TEU, and Evergreen Line with 19,600 TEU.

Leasing companies are also aggressively expanding their fleets. SeaCube Container Leasing, now the largest reefer lessor, added over 39,000 TEU by the end of September, while Florens, Textainer, and CAI collectively added more than 73,000 TEU to their inventories. CIMC remains the dominant manufacturer, producing 145,818 TEU, though newer players like FUWA Guangdong have seen production surge by nearly 42% year-on-year.

Why it matters

The current production strength is a direct consequence of operational inefficiencies caused by the ongoing avoidance of the Bab el-Mandeb region and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Because containerships are forced to sail around the Cape of Good Hope, transit times have lengthened, reducing the number of loaded journeys each reefer unit can complete. Carriers are buying and leasing additional boxes to maintain service levels, effectively building a buffer against these longer cycles.

Concerns regarding the Panama Canal’s draught levels and potential transit capacity constraints are further incentivizing this equipment hoarding. Carriers operating high-volume fruit trades between the west coast of South America and Europe or the US east coast are prioritizing equipment availability to avoid positioning shortfalls. This shift in strategy means that until shipping networks normalize, the demand for new reefer capacity will remain decoupled from traditional trade growth patterns.

Looking ahead, the market faces a significant replacement cycle. Up to 850,000 TEU of reefer equipment produced between 2013 and 2016 will reach retirement age by 2030. However, this replacement volume could accelerate if carriers continue to offload 10-year-old units to the secondary market in favor of newer, more fuel-efficient machines with advanced controlled atmosphere systems.

What to watch

Monitor the retirement rates of reefer units produced in 2021 and 2022, as early evidence suggests these boxes may require replacement sooner than traditional lifespans dictate due to rapid technological advancements in refrigeration machinery.

Source: World Cargo News