Local industry sees positive indicators
WHILE THERE are positive indicators in the shipping industry of an end to the Asian crisis, nobody is prepared to wager a specific date.
Very definite (plus) signs, said John Turner, m.d. of P&O Nedlloyd.
And he's talking worldwide trends, not just those related to SA seafreight trade. Definite improvement both worldwide and as far as the local SA market is concerned, Turner said.
We are seeing movements, and the Far East is buying materials again - a signal of industrial recovery.
Brett Gray, liner director of Safmarine agrees - although tempering his enthusiasm somewhat.
There are continual signs and reports that Japan, for example, is getting itself underway again, he said. And we certainly have to hope that the Far East problem will start to rise out of the bottom of the dip.