The global container ship orderbook has reached a record high, with over 1,000 newbuildings totaling more than 10 million TEU, representing 31.1 per cent of the global fleet's slot capacity, reported Saint Petersburg's PortNews.

China, Korea and Japan account for 98.5 per cent of the orderbook, led by China with 7.36 million TEU (73.7 per cent), followed by Korea with 2.04 million TEU (20.5 per cent) and Japan with 0.43 million TEU (4.3 per cent).

Only 29 vessels are being built outside the big three nations. Taiwan has 16 ships under construction, Turkey four, the United States three and India two. Small orders have also been placed in Azerbaijan, Indonesia and Pakistan.

Alphaliner said some orders outside the dominant shipbuilding countries are driven by specific factors. Turkey's largest ships are being built at a yard affiliated with the ship owner, while US orders are shaped by Jones Act rules requiring domestic builds for routes to Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico.