Ship supply gets tougher

摘要

Ship supply has become a consolidated business in recent years, as specialist suppliers strengthen their presence in their home markets and push into new areas of the world and new maritime sectors. Hutton's, the United Kingdom's largest supplier, has built a network to serve all the country's ports and is considering further expansion. But, as managing director Alex Taylor told Fairplay at the company's head office in Hull, the weak market is forcing suppliers to tighten their processes. "The real problem now is getting paid," he said. "Our standard term is 30 days, although this can be extended.