The good, the bad and the ugly in tankers
With trade policy chaos causing spikes in blood pressure but slumps in most other indices, the Baltic Dirty Tanker Index bucked the trend with a 15% increase between March 24 and April 24. The charge was led by aframaxes, with the Baltic Exchange’s aframax index rising 44% between those dates to $46,347, ahead of a […]
Giving up March’s dry bulk gains
Just weeks into the new world order, bulk carrier owners were relieved to be told that the US Trade Representative had decided not to charge owners and operators of Chinese bulkers the egregiously excessive port fees that had been mooted. Not $1.5m per call, or even the lesser $50 per net ton for Chinese-owned ships […]
Container fortunes remain in place
Liner companies and their customers lobbied hard to persuade the US Trade Representative (USTR) to change its approach to port charges, predicting bankruptcies and lost business for US companies. Still, the Project 2025 doctrine is that China’s Communist Party has been “at war with the US…for decades” and that the US should respond to China […]
Analyst Abstract
Tankers Today, there are around 130 VLCCs over 20 years old still trading, compared to fewer than 20 five years ago, according to data from Tankers International, which notes that around two-thirds of these vintage supertankers are engaged in moving sanctioned oil. Over the next four years, the number of vessels exceeding 20 years is […]
Uncertainty puts the brakes on S&P
It has been a relatively quiet few weeks across most sectors with global geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties still to be unravelled. Tariffs, the wait to see what the US Trade Representative was going to do about Chinese tonnage, and concerns the world is heading for a recession have all put the brakes on sale and […]
Shipping Stock Breakdown: April Performance Amid Global Trade Tensions
April 2025 unfolded as a month of high tension and shifting dynamics, as container lines faced simultaneous pressures from geopolitical instability and economic policy shocks. The sharp escalation of trade protectionism—driven by President Trump’s sweeping new tariffs on Chinese and global imports—sent ripples through global supply chains, while sustained disruptions in the Red Sea continued […]
Parcelhero: Power Outage in Spain and Portugal to Severely Impact E-Commerce
A massive power cut across large parts of Spain and Portugal will have had a major impact on European Union (EU) cross-border e-commerce, according to the international delivery expert Parcelhero. A major power outage, which blacked out much of Spain and Portugal on 28 April, and also reportedly briefly impacted regions of France, will have […]
Kalmar bets on North American Genuine Parts warehouse
Finnish port equipment manufacturer Kalmar will relocate and outsource its Genuine Parts warehouse from Ottawa, Kansas, to Greenwood, Indiana. The move is expected to improve delivery times and customer support, as well as enable the further growth of Kalmar’s Genuine Parts and Service businesses. The new Greenwood distribution center will allow Kalmar to store all […]
PSA’s Potential Exit from CK Hutchison Stake Signals Strategic Pivot Toward Growth and Stability
In light of PSA International’s decision to explore the sale of its 20% stake in CK Hutchison’s ports business, a review of the group’s recent activities suggests a clear recalibration of capital toward emerging markets and geopolitically stable regions. The main question is whether PSA reallocates capital to emerging markets or strategically important regions. This […]
Hapag-Lloyd announces new direct link between Türkiye and West Africa
Hapag-Lloyd has announced the introduction of a new direct connection between Türkiye and key West African ports. Starting May 2025, the German carrier’s updated WAX service will combine the former XMX and WAX services, delivering enhanced coverage, improved transit times, and increased flexibility. Hapag-Lloyd said the new service will offer a direct connection from Izmit, […]