The global economic downturn of 2008–2009 resulted in more ships than usual being sold for scrap.[1] In 2009, 364,300 TEU worth of container ship capacity was scrapped, up from 99,900 TEU in 2008.[61] Container ships accounted for 22.6% of the total gross tonnage of ships scrapped that year.[63] Despite the surge, the capacity removed from the fleet only accounted for 3% of the world's containership capacity.[61] The average age of container ships scrapped in 2009 was 27.0 years.[63]