2015 – A Classic Game Of Two Halves

2083

2015 was driven by the cumulative impact of weakening demand trends. World Economy witnessed various disturbances in vessel demand.

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Highlights:

  • The first half of the year enjoyed great earnings whilst the second half suffered abrupt downtrend in earnings.
  • Containership charter rates gained some traction during the year.

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  • Freight market proved be exigent and slowed down demand.

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  • Box freight market was highly volatile but on the negative side.
  • The spot freight rate on the key Far East-Europe trade averaged 47% less than that of 2014.
  • Liner companies with 12,000+ teu capacity carried freight over its capacity, in spite of 46 newly delivered units.
  • The one-year time charter rate for a 2750 teu vessel increased from $7,850/day in January to as high as $13,500/day in Q2 2015.
  • Effect  of Chinese economic turbulence:
    • Far East-Europe trade contracted by 4%.
    • Intra-Asian volumes slowed to around 3%.
    • Commodity imports into developing countries slowed down.
    • Global box trade estimates a weak trend.
  • The one year rate for a 2750 teu ship dropped to $6,500/day.

2015 was clearly a ‘game of two halves’ for the boxship sector. 2016 is expected to be more of a ‘waiting game’ for containership owners.

Source: Clarksons