Alphaliner’s latest report, issued recently, said that the Singapore-based X-Press Feeders, now the 16th largest operator, has expanded its fleet by 2.1% since June 2022, and now has a capacity of 134,773 TEU, including 71,232 TEU of owned vessels.
Over the same period, Unifeeder (ranked 19th) has reduced its fleet capacity by 18%, and now operates 118,571 TEU of ships, all consisting of chartered tonnage.
Unifeeder began downsizing its fleet after Asia-Europe volumes began regressing to pre-Covid-19 levels, affecting demand for the Aarhus-based carrier’s feeder services connecting North Europe with the Baltic region. This saw Unifeeder redelivering more than 7,000 TEUs of vessels which have since been redeployed by other carriers in the European shortsea segment.
Acquired by DP World in 2018, Unifeeder is an asset-light operator, relying fully on the charter market for its tonnage needs.
Of X-Press Feeders’ fleet, 51% is owned, up from 42% in June 2021.
X-Press Feeders’ orderbook now stands at 90,000 TEU which represents an impressive 65% of its existing fleet. This includes six 1,250 TEU methanol dual-fuelled container ships commissioned at CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding on 31 May, for delivery in 2025 and 2026. Not all of X-Press Feeders’ newbuildings will be self-operated, and two 7,000 TEU ships contracted at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding have been chartered to CMA CGM, which has been actively securing more tonnage as mainline operators continue to battle for market share.
