WORLDWIDE MARITIME NEWS XII
1.- SHIPPING CONFIDENCE: HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE 2008
According to the latest Shipping Confidence Survey from international accountant and shipping adviser Moore Stephens, overall confidence levels in the shipping industry rose to their highest level for almost six years in the three-month period to February 2014. In February 2014, the average confidence level expressed by respondents in the markets in which they operate was 6.5 on a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high), compared to the 6.1 recorded in the previous survey in November 2013. This is the highest figure since the 6.8 recorded when the survey was launched in May 2008. All categories of respondent to the survey reported improved levels of confidence compared to the previous survey. Confidence on the part of owners was up from 6.2 to 6.6, while the rating for charterers (up from 5.7 to 6.5) was the highest in the life of the survey. The rating for managers was up from 6.1 to 6.4, while that for brokers was up to 6.4 from the previous level of 5.6. Geographically, confidence was up in Asia (from 5.9 to 6.4), in Europe (from 6.1 to 6.4), and in North America (from 6.6 to 7.1).
2.- CMA CGM: SOLID PERFORMANCE IN 2013
CMA CGM, the world´s third largest container shipping line, reviewed the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013. Despite the difficult market, CMA CGM has reduced its cost while increasing its volumes carried much faster than the market, enabling CMA CGM to report one of the industry´s best financial performance. For this reason, year after year, CMA CGM is reinforcing its position as the world’s third largest container shipping company.
3.- EU SHIPPING INDUSTRY: GREECE CONTROLS THE BIGGEST SHIPPING FLEET IN EUROPE
According to Oxford Economics, at the start of 2014 the EU controlled fleet (the 28 EU countries plus Norway) comprised of 660 million deadweight tonnes, 450 million gross tonnes, and 23,000 vessels. Between the start of 2005 and the start of 2014, the EU controlled fleet expanded by more than 70 per cent in terms of both gross and deadweight tonnage. The number of vessels grew at a much lower rate, reflecting the trend towards larger ships which offer greater economies of scale. Talking about countries, Greece has the largest controlled fleet within Europe, equivalent to 36 per cent of gross tonnage, or 43 per cent of deadweight tonnage and Germany represents a further 21 per cent of gross tonnage, or 19 per cent of deadweight tonnage.
4.- APM TERMINALS: STRATEGIC COLLABORATION WITH CHINA SHIPPING
APM Terminals and China Shipping Group have signed a strategic collaboration agreement that enables the two companies to continue discussions concerning new container terminal projects in a joint venture between the two partners. China Shipping Group plans to expand its European port network. In order to reach this objetive, on March 8th 2013, China Shipping Group and APM Terminals Zeebrugge signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding a 24 percent stake to China Shipping Group in the Maersk terminal operator's deeptwater, high productivity terminal in Zeebrugge.
5.- CONTAINER INDUSTRY: VICIOUS CIRCLE
Drewry’s 1Q14 Container Forecaster report highlights that the industry remains in an extended down cycle. This is being accentuated and extended by the constant delivery of new ships. The global cascade is now hurting the balance of the north/south trades. Some of these trade routes have also not lived up to expectations in terms of cargo flows and the sharp influx of many new ships of at least 8,000 teu has resulted in significant declines in spot freight rates, particularly on the Asia to East Coast South America trade.