Handy challenges and opportunities

摘要

The dry bulk shipping market continues to face considerable pressures, with owners/operators of Handysize (15,000-35,000 dwt) and Handymax or Supramax (35,000-60,000 dwt) vessels facing some of the greatest challenges. This is the result of both changes in the market and increased competition with liner shipping companies that have selectively been targeting traditional Handysize/Handymax sectors such as agri-commodities including grain, forest products, general cargo such as steel, and even some project cargo. In terms of the market, shipper/ consignees are tending to sell/buy cargo in smaller lots, integrate deliveries into their production/processing systems directly by using the transport leg as their storage, all of which makes the container a more attractive mode of shipment. Meanwhile, for liner companies, these primary and semi-processed raw materials offer cargo and hence freight income on otherwise backhaul legs where empty repositioning of equipment is their main business.