Hapag-Lloyd has ordered 150,000 TEU of new standard dry containers and state-of-the-art reefer containers from China for 2021.
The container shipping line has increased its investment in response to the need for significantly more boxes to carry the same volume because of boxes turning slower.
Some of the boxes have already delivered to Hapag-Lloyd and integrated into its existing container fleet in the first quarter of 2021, but the majority are expected to be delivered in the upcoming months.
Additionally, Hapag-Lloyd has ordered 8,000 TEU of special containers to be used for over-sized or dangerous goods.
Rolf Habben Jansen, chief executive of Hapag-Lloyd, said the investment amounted to roughly US$$550m making it one of the biggest container orders in the history of Hapag-Lloyd.
“The container shipping industry is currently seeing unprecedented demand, which has led to a shortage of containers all over the world,” Habben Jansen said.
“With its recent container orders, Hapag-Lloyd is contributing to efforts to ease the current situation and will be able to offer its customers a much better service.”
