When it comes to matching
supply to demand in order to
maintain the level of freight
rates, it’s a fine balancing
act.
According to Iain
McIntosh, regional sales
manager for MOL, a number
of market reports are what
he describes as “upbeat” –
and moves being made by
shipping lines are leading
to a better capacity supply/
demand situation. He also
stressed that scrapping of
vessels was matching the
input of newbuild tonnage
and this was also helping
supply/demand.
Quoting one report,
McIntosh said: “Freight rates
are holding on to a healthy
level on the main routes,
while new large vessels are
being put to work smoothly
without adding extra
downside pressure to the
current balance.
“In light of the slowly
developing demand side,
it’s very positive that
the industry deals with
the supply side issues to
improve the fundamentals.”
Another new market
summary that FTW found
on the web confirmed that
scrapping activity was
staying strong.
The containership fleet
has just surpassed the 16-m
TEU mark, with 3.6m TEU
left on the orderbook for
future delivery. “But,” it
said, “the growth is luckily
diminished due to excessive
demolition activity – where
90 vessels of an average
size equal to 1 866 TEU (an
approximate total of 167 940
TEU) has neutralised the
inflow of 167 947 TEU.
“In combination with
a delivery pace that is
expected to slow down in
the coming five months,
the forecast fleet growth is
lowered to 7.2% in 2012.”
The general consensus
is that things showed a
slight improvement in the
second quarter, and this
can be expected to continue
getting better as the year
progresses, and into next
year.
CAPTION
Moves being made by shipping lines are leading to a better capacity supply/demand situation.
