Chinese vehicle exports have consistently outperformed expectations in recent years, reaching roughly 8.3 million units in 2025, up more than 30% year-on-year, and electric vehicle exports rising close to 70% year-on-year, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) per Gasgoo. This surge has absorbed record levels of new PCTC newbuilding deliveries, effectively selling out the PCTC fleet claims chief executive of Wallenius Wilhelmsen, Lasse Kristoffersen. Strong Chinese demand is now increasingly the central driver of global car carrier utilisation.

Despite a sizeable orderbook, current fleet absorption suggests supply is being matched by export growth, particularly on Asia-linked routes. If Chinese volumes remain elevated, capacity on key trade lanes could tighten further, supporting forward charter markets and reinforcing the structural strength of the PCTC segment rather than the oversupply narrative some had anticipated.