Asian recovery pushes up containerised cargoes, writes Ed Richardson
WORLD SEABORNE trade recorded its fourteenth consecutive annual increase in absolute terms in 1999, reaching a record high of 5,23 billion tons, according to Unctad's Review of Maritime Transport, 2000 [1].
The world merchant fleet continued to expand at a rate of 1,3%, reaching 799 million deadweight tons (dwt) at the end of last year.
During 1999 developing countries expanded their fleet to 153,6 million dwt, up from 150,8 million dwt the previous year.
This represents 19,2% of the 1999 world fleet, compared to 18,9% in 1998, and was mainly attributable to the increase in Asian developing countries' deadweight tonnage, from 108,5 million dwt in 1998 to 112,2 million dwt in 1999.
They own 14.0% of world tonnage, or 73% of the fleet of all developing countries, while African developing countries own 0,8% of world tonnage (4% of all developing country tonnage).
This tonnage growth of developing countries had a positive impact on age structure, with average vessel age in developing countries reduced to 14,19 years in 1999, as compared to 14.09 years for the world fleet as a whole, and clearly indicates a qualitative improvement in developing country fleets, according to Unctad.
The average age of this group's containerships dropped dramatically, to 9,13 years in 1999 from 11,39 years in 1998, reflecting the high share (39,9%) of ships between 0 and 4 years of age.
The operational productivity of the world fleet, measured in terms of tons of cargo carried per deadweight ton, maintained the same level in 1999 as in 1998 - 6,42 tons per dwt, which was a record high.
Ton-miles productivity measured in terms of performance per deadweight ton, however, fell substantially to just under 27 000 tons - the lowest since 1993.
In 1999, positive developments - such as larger consignment and vessel sizes, improved port conditions, and marginal growth in overall supply (1,3%) - were offset by the decreasing growth in total demand (1,3% in 1999, down from 1,6% in 1998).
Looking in detail at the 1999 trends in global sea borne trade, the Review reports that a moderate 2,8% increase in the main dry bulk commodities pushed the overall level of growth of dry cargo shipments to 3%, the lowest since 1996.
Among main dry bulk commodities, coal and grain rose by 1,5% and 7,1% in 1999, while shipments of iron ore fell by 1,7%.
Containerised manufactured goods, which are another main dry cargo, rose by 1% in 1999, reflecting a substantial recovery from the Asian crisis and its aftermath. Oil trade in tankers, by contrast, which represented 42% of all world trade, slipped by 1%.
Copyright Now Media (Pty) Ltd
No article may be reproduced without the written permission of the editor
To respond to this article send your email to joyo@nowmedia.co.za
