A surge in orders for large containership is said to be driven by such factors as low newbuilding prices, advanced vessel design of high efficiency and etc. than the traditional main factor, fleet supply and demand in the market.
The orders for large boxship greatly increased from last year despite serious imbalance of supply and demand, which was affected by global oversupply of containership. According to Drewry Maritime Research, this recent order spree of large boxship suggests that it is no longer market fundamentals to drive new vessel orders.
It pointed to the falling newbuilding prices as a factor of order spree and middle standing operators are pushing themselves to place newbuilding orders to gain a competitive advantage over large operators.
Drewry Maritime took an example of five 18,000 teu ultra-large containerships placed by CSCL when saying that the newbuilding price was around $136.6m apiece, which represents the each vessel is priced 26% less than the same vessel type Maersk had ordered. It added, however, the direct comparison between two series is not proper since both vessels’ design classification is different.  
Moreover, the Middle East shipowner UASC is also currently in newbuilding negotiations for five 18,000 teu containerships with an Asian yard. The owner mentioned that the 18,000 teu has nearly 35% less fuel consumption than 13,000 teu per unit.