News

The freight market has adjusted to the estimated impact of the port fees implemented by the US and China. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Intermodal said that “the latest escalation in U.S.-China trade tensions marks a setback to hopes for a gradual return to a less protectionist trading environment. After a relatively calm summer, …

A scheduled Extraordinary Session of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee has ended without adopting the policy measures agreed upon in principle in April 2025. These measures are intended to reduce emissions from the shipping sector and kick-start the sector’s energy transition. The meeting failed to complete the next milestone toward the entry into force …

Prior to the advent of Chinese leasing, ship leasing was historically a financing structure in the alternative ship finance space. It was originally perceived as a relatively covenant free financing instrument which provided high financing leverage compared to what was provided at the time under traditional debt financing. It was frequently used as an off-balance …

Trade flows are bound to be disrupted from the spillover of trade tensions in the shipping market. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Gibson said that “on October 14, both the US and China imposed prohibitively expensive port fees on tonnage linked to the other country. The USTR’s Section 301 measures were published and analysed …

Capesize The Capesize market experienced a volatile week marked by sharp swings in sentiment and rates following China’s announcement of new port fees on U.S. linked vessels. Early gains, driven by speculation over potential inefficiencies, quickly reversed as clarity emerged that Chinese-built tonnage would be exempt, triggering a sharp midweek correction. The Pacific market saw …

News of China’s recent retaliatory tonnage charges on US-linked vessels has spread through the shipping market like wildfire, marking a significant step in the further escalation of ongoing trade tensions between the US and China. A previous article summarised the report of the International Chamber of Shipping (China) Liaison office on the issue. This article …

The tanker market showed mixed results during the past month, OPEC said in its latest monthly report. Dirty tanker spot freight rates showed mixed movement in September. VLCC spot freight rates surged as increasing outflows from the Middle East worked through available tonnage lists. Spot freight rates on the Middle East-to-East route jumped 56%, m-o-m, …

In its Maritime Risk Barometer Report for 2024/2025, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) identified cyber attacks as one of the top four high level risks to maritime operations. The global shipping industry’s increasing reliance on digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence has kept cyber risk high on the maritime agenda. The threat that cyber risk …

The world economy has successfully avoided the initial, catastrophic blow from the recent surge in trade protectionism, yet the long-term outlook remains “insufficiently bright”, according to the latest World Economic Outlook report from the International Monetary Fund. Acting as a global policy bellwether, the IMF has delivered a sombre assessment, highlighting the tension points of …

Ship recycling is exhibiting signs of divergence across the major markets. In its latest weekly report, Best Oasis (www.best-oasis.com), a leading cash buyer of ships, said that “the Indian market remains very weak, with prices declining daily and no signs of recovery. Overall demand in local markets has dropped sharply, partly due to the government’s …