231 posts tagged
Shipping has faced multiple geopolitical shocks in the first half of 2026 so where are markets headed in the remainder of the year? In this episode of the Seatrade Maritime News Podcast, we take a comprehensive look at the shipping markets as we head into the second half of 2026. Join Marcus Hand and the … Continue reading Shipping markets outlook for H2 2026 →
The VLCC sector has enjoyed extremely high rates this and Maritime Strategies International (MSI) earnings averaging $142,000 per day in Q3 in its recent monthly Horizon report. In the first half of 2026 owners ordered 177 VLCC newbuildings which will be the highest annual number in history even if no further contracts are signed in … Continue reading CMB.TECH books massive profit from VLCC sale →
The first half of 2026 has seen VLCC contracting surge, exceeding previous annual records by a huge margin. MSI reports 177 VLCCs totalling 54.5m dwt ordered during the first half of 2026, with the VLCC orderbook-to-fleet ratio at around 35% as of June, up from just 2% in 2023. Even if no further orders had … Continue reading ‘Astonishing year’ sees VLCC contracting smash through historical records →
A familiar constraint from shipping’s last great shipbuilding boom is beginning to reappear: yards are short of engines. “We’ve certainly heard that the availability of engines is having an impact on some yards, in terms of output,” said Adam Kent, who heads up consultancy Maritime Strategies International (MSI). “However, I think this is ultimately leading … Continue reading Shipyards compete with AI for engines →
Limited infrastructure, fuel availability and regulatory uncertainty have seen orders for alternative fuel-capable ships fall from their 2024 peak, writes MSI’s Mariam Tzannatos. Dual-fuel capable newbuilding activity has fallen consistently over the past two years and further and faster in the past five months. Data published by Maritime Strategies International suggests that investors are having … Continue reading Has dual-fuel ambition stalled in the face of commercial reality? →
Spot earnings in market segments less exposed to the Middle East have already taken a distinctive downturn and large tankers are likely to follow if cargo levels drop, says research firm MSI. “In segments less exposed to the Middle East, such as Aframaxes and MRs, spot earnings have already taken a distinctive downturn and are … Continue reading Gulf disruption drives divergence between oil tanker earnings and cargo →
With little obvious prospect of majority of vessels stuck in the Gulf managing to leave safely any time soon has the time lay-up come. The stalemate around the Strait of Hormuz is nearing the three-month mark with around 1,000 vessels and 20,000 seafarers remaining stranded in the Arabian Gulf. MSI Managing Director Adam Kent believes … Continue reading Time for owners to evacuate crew stranded by Hormuz stalemate →
Last year, trade conducted via sea reached a total of 68 trillion ton-miles, with the average distance covered per ton of cargo recorded at 5,262 nautical miles. This indicates a 10% increase compared to the beginning of the decade. Tim Smith, Director of Maritime Strategies International, noted in an assessment earlier in 2026, ‘Increased demand … Continue reading 2020s: The Era of Extended Shipping Distances →
MSI Managing Director, Dr Adam Kent, contributes to the Lloyd’s List Shipping Podcast live from Singapore, as part of the Lloyds List Outlook Forum. Adam highlights the constantly shifting geopolitical backdrop the industry currently faces and how this can be an impediment to investors, given the start-stop nature of many directives. Listen to the podcast … Continue reading What keeps shipping awake at night? →
OPTIMISM is in short supply as geopolitical turmoil deepens and the Hormuz crisis adds fresh strain to global shipping. Experts warn the fallout will be long‑lasting, compounding the economic damage left by the pandemic. “Tonne-miles are increasing, but once we get to demand destruction, then the demand destruction will be greater than increasing tonne-mile input.” … Continue reading Shipping braces for prolonged turmoil as Hormuz crisis fuels inflation and supply strain →
Should the energy transition be reframed as a trade resilience strategy, asks Mariam Tzannatos, decarbonisation analyst at MSI. The conflict in the Middle East has once again exposed a structural feature of the global energy system: concentration risk. Read more at Splash247.com
MSI has appointed John Moulopoulos as director, North America, with responsibility for business development in the Americas. The company said Mr Moulopoulos joins from Boston-based maritime intelligence and data delivery service Marsoft Inc, and his role will include working with North American shipowners and maritime investors, while also drawing on his heritage and network to … Continue reading MSI appoints North American director →
MSI’s latest scenario modelling asks what happens to Gulf tanker trades when Strait of Hormuz access shifts from disruption to prolonged denial. The effect on tanker markets from the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Iran’s subsequent retaliation, while extreme and spectacular, was somewhat predictable, with a rate spike following similar patterns to previous … Continue reading From theory to reality: scenario analysis for Strait of Hormuz tanker trades →
MSI cites a number of factors driving the large tanker sector including a build up of floating storage and Sinokor’s aggressive moves to acquire and control VLCC tonnage, which has been estimated to control 24% of the spot trading fleet. “Sinokor is reportedly already withholding its VLCC tonnage in order to push rates up further.” … Continue reading Red hot VLCC market hits new highs amid US – Iran tensions →
The demographic sweetspot for China, the 21st century’s driving force of shipping profits, has long passed. This month, Beijing reported its steepest birth rate decline since the Communist Party took power in 1949. Splash Extra investigates what a dwindling population means for global shipping. Adam Kent, managing director at MSI, explains to Splash Extra that … Continue reading China’s demographic cliff: can shipping live without its golden growth engine? →
Strategic and economic shifts by South Korean builders are designed to counter China’s orderbook dominance, writes Stuart Nicoll, director, MSI. Read more at Xinde Marine.
2025 was a year like no other for shipping buffeted by US tariffs, trade wars, and geopolitical conflicts but through it all markets across most major sectors performed remarkably well. Going into 2026 there seems to be no let up with the US military action in Venezuela with days of the New Year, so what does the rest of the coming 12 months have to offer the world of shipping? Find out the views of the experts from MSI Ltd by listening to the podcast at Seatrade Maritime.
According to a new report from Fitch Ratings, next year will still be challenging due to a myriad of geopolitical and policy risks. Shipping will also be hit by the lower GDP growth expected across most major economies in 2026 compared to 2025. Adam Kent, managing director at MSI, agrees with several aspects of this … Continue reading How to spend it in 2026 →
At the Xinde Marine Forum, Dr Adam Kent, Managing Director of MSI, delivered a data-rich and forward-looking keynote that combined market analytics with deeper structural insights from MSI’s latest research. Read more at Xinde Marine News.
China-led hydrogen and ammonia regional exports will curb the development of longhaul trades and limit large carrier fleet growth, argues MSI decarbonisation analyst Mariam Tzannatos. Read more at Riviera.
Disrupted crude flows, sanctions and floating storage sustained exceptional tanker earnings in late 2025. Crude tanker earnings held near cycle highs in late November, even as analysts began to ask whether a prospective ’peace dividend’ in Ukraine could erode some of the structural support behind tonne-mile demand. MSI’s latest HORIZON Monthly for oil tankers reported benchmark VLCC … Continue reading War-distorted tanker boom faces reset →
MSI HORIZON tanker report showed large crude tankers strengthening on China’s special port fees (SPF) and new US sanctions, while LR2 swing tonnage and coated-fleet growth shaped a weaker products picture. Read more at Riviera
In the near term, the impact on freight costs will be relatively minimal, said Stuart Nicoll, a director at MSI, a London-based consultancy. The fees on high-emitting fuels like oil will start in 2028 and rise, but by 2035, some of the rewards for using low-carbon fuels may start to outweigh the penalties. Read more … Continue reading Trump officials go all out to block carbon tax on shipping →
So, what are the options? ABS and MSI have two possible scenarios, outlined in this year’s Outlook publication. Namely, their full conversion scenario assumes all eligible oil-fuelled vessels are converted due to escalating oil costs. It would require yard capacity expansion before 2030. Read more at Splash247.com
From trade wars and military conflicts to pandemics and natural disasters, not to mention growing environmental regulations and government interventions, disruptions to supply chains and global shipping markets have had an enormous impact on freight costs and asset values in the last decade, writes MSI Director Will Fray. Read more at Baltic Transport Journal
US President Donald Trump likes to trumpet very large numbers and South Korea’s shipbuilding investment plans as part of its bilateral tariff deal is no exception. Now how much of these big numbers will ever see the light of day, especially when one considers Trump’s Presidency has less three and half years to run, is … Continue reading What would $150bn investment in US shipbuilding look like? →
Vessel tracking data from MSI Seascape platform shows a bulk carrier, two container ships and two car carriers at terminals that were cut off by the closure. Read more at TradeWinds.
Ten for ambition, five for achievement. Hydrogen’s journey to alternative fuel solution at scale continues to be a slow one, but the tempo is changing, argues Mariam Tzannatos, hydrogen sector analyst at MSI. Read more at Splash247.com
Brazil’s offshore oil production continues to underpin growth in the shuttle tanker segment, but the rise of Guyana as a new production hub is reshaping the market’s strategic outlook. Speaking during the 1 July 2025 webinar Market dynamics and strategic partnerships in shuttle tanker operations, MSI director Tim Smith highlighted how fleet expansion, political risk and … Continue reading Brazil, Guyana shape shuttle tanker outlook →
MSI’s valuation estimates for ships based on a prediction of their future earnings show bulker buyers are paying the biggest premium in today’s sale-and-purchase market, according to data from the MSI Seascape platform. Read more at TradeWinds.
The client was had an existing shipping arm which had been underinvested, was generating limited profits and was poorly aligned with the wider business. MSI was contracted to generate a business strategy based on assessing an optimal fleet configuration based on carrying domestic cargoes. MSI completed an accurate assessment of total cargoes being shipped by … Continue reading MSI Consultancy Case Study – Defining Shipping Strategy →
The client was a National Oil Company with an underdeveloped shipping and logistics business with an existing shipping arm which had been underinvested, was generating limited profits and was poorly aligned with the wider business. MSI was requested to provide a business strategy based on carrying assessing an optimal fleet based on carrying domestic cargoes. … Continue reading MSI Consultancy Case Study – Development of Shipping Business →
Geopolitical disruption in shipping has reached new heights in the first half of 2025 and MSI examine the impact on markets and the outlook ahead. In this latest shipping markets outlook episode, we are joined by analysts from MSI to take a look at the outlook for containers, tankers, dry bulk, and shipbuilding in the second … Continue reading Shipping markets outlook for H2 2025 – Podcast →
MSI Director, Tim Smith, contributes to this webinar, which will analyse the evolving market environment for shuttle tankers, focusing on offshore production trends, chartering strategies, and the role of strategic partnerships between operators and oil majors. It will explore how geopolitical shifts, fleet growth and demand fluctuations shape the market, and how long-term contracts and … Continue reading Webinar – Market dynamics and strategic partnerships in shuttle tanker operations →
The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway for oil and gas with around 20% of global supplies shipped through the narrow stretch of water. MSI Horizon monthly tanker report said that about 15 million barrels per day of crude and 4 million barrels per day of products are shipped through the Strait. Read more … Continue reading Oil prices ease as Trump announces Iran – Israel ceasefire →
MSI recently completed a strategy review for a Middle Eastern tanker operator whose Board of Directors required a review of its operations to help the business benefit from changing market conditions. The Board sought independent financial advice with an assessment of the financial performance of the business, current and forecast market conditions, commentary on the … Continue reading MSI Consultancy Case Study – Strategy Review →
Melting ice could make shorter transits between Asia and Europe a reality but there are economic and geopolitical risks. Daniel Richards, a director at London-based consultancy MSI, points to the risks of using the northern route. He says container shipping lines tend to be risk-averse, and their customers are similarly reluctant to have their goods … Continue reading Shipping lines go cool on Arctic Ocean route →
MSI is increasingly commissioned to research and analyse the impact of environmental regulation and decarbonisation on vessel operations and fleet profiles. This can be supported with access to MSI SEASCAPE. Our expertise in understanding shipping markets extends to specialist analysis of the industry in the energy transition, including impact on vessel types, cargoes and supply … Continue reading MSI Consultancy Case Study – Theoretical Emissions Analysis →
MSI has given an early indication of the impact that the Net Zero Framework will have on the bunker market, based on data from its new SEASCAPE platform. By extending the annual fuel consumption estimates calculated for 2024 through to 2035, and applying MSI’s forecasts for bunker prices, it is possible to project the future … Continue reading What will be powering ships in the 2030s? →
By joining the dots in global trade, it is possible to understand how ships perform and how owners deploy them, writes Will Fray, Director, MSI. Read more at Xinde Marine.
Shipping industry stakeholders plan to seek a raising of ship sizes to 85,000 dwt for exemptions from the US Trade Representative’s proposed fees for China-built ships, if they are owned and operated by non-Chinese companies, several market participants said. A quarter of the VLCCs involved in US trade in 2024 were China-built, according to UK-based … Continue reading Shipping industry to seek USTR port fees rejig on size, ownership →
Consultancy’s new MSI SEASCAPE platform calculates that carbon levies will add 82% to bunker costs by 2035. Its new SEASCAPE market analysis, vessel performance and asset valuation platform crunched the numbers on new carbon levies proposed in April. Read more at TradeWinds.
MSI senior analyst Bonita Nightingale, speaking at the International Chemical & Product Tanker Conference 2025, noted the chemical tanker market, having enjoyed elevated earnings through 2022–2024, faces a softer outlook. Read more at Riviera.
With data for activity in the global shipbuilding industry now available for 2024, MSI’s Stuart Nicoll estimates that global newbuilding contracting for all ship types was 133m GT, with a more even spread among the main sectors than in recent years. Collation of the latest data couldn’t have been better timed, given the recent release … Continue reading China’s Shipbuilding Dominance and Global Trade Competition in Context →
Modelling the impact of a peace settlement in Ukraine could result in a major dent to earnings for the sector, writes MSI director Tim Smith. Read more at Riviera
The dominance of China in the newbuilding the market has come under intense scrutiny with the investigations by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) – but how did the country’s shipyards achieve such a leading position? Speaking on the ‘Shipbuilding – a macro view’ panel at Sea Asia 2025 Adam Kent, Managing Director of MSI … Continue reading Six factors that enabled China to dominate global shipbuilding →
Adam Kent, Managing Director of Maritime Strategies International (MSI) said, “I think the levels will be lower, but what it will do is cause people to shift what vessels are calling at US ports, if they can…”. Read more at Seatrade Maritime
According to Maritime Strategies International, the average cost for e-methanol in 2024 was $2,348 per ton of low sulphur fuel oil equivalent, nearly four times the price of low sulphur fuel oil. Mariam Tzannatos, a decarbonisation analyst at the London-based consultancy, tells EEI: “Pricing is currently a significant barrier to the widespread adoption of renewable … Continue reading Methanol ships depend on China →
Shipping markets have profited from turbulence in this decade, but far bigger changes are coming in the years ahead, argues Tim Smith, a director at Maritime Strategies International. As we approach the mid-point of this decade, from a shipping market fundamentals perspective the most important factor of the 2020s so far has been disruption. Read … Continue reading Choose your risk: short term disruption or long-term transition →
Bulk carrier newbuilding prices have started to correct in recent months, following a period of significant growth. Analysts believe this indicates a softening rather than a complete collapse in prices. “Perhaps unsurprisingly, the sector where we have seen the most significant downward movement in newbuilding prices recently has been Supramaxes,” MSI managing director Dr Adam … Continue reading Bulk carrier newbuilding prices drop: what to expect next →
Shipping is facing overcapacity not seen since 2007, according to Adam Kent, managing director of MSI. Read more at TradeWinds
Capacity additions during the Biden administration were the highest for a single-term president. Although the new Trump administration is likely to reduce regulation around drilling and oil production, US oil output nonetheless already hit record levels in 2024. October saw the figure reach 20.7m b/d—a new high for the monthly average. Read more at Petroleum … Continue reading Commercial decisions, not Trump, will determine US oil production →
Following a rollercoaster ride of a year for shipping last year where are shipping markets headed in 2025? Get the view of the MSI experts in our 2025 markets outlook podcast episode. Listen to the podcast at Seatrade Maritime.
MSI expects tanker orders to slow through 2028 after the ordering spree of 2023-2024. Read more at Seatrade Maritime.
The story of India’s government, led by prime minister Narendra Modi, setting a goal to become a top 10 shipbuilder by 2030 and a top five one by 2047 has been doing the rounds for some time now, but how feasible is it and what must happen for that to become a reality. “For India … Continue reading Can India reach its ambitious shipbuilding targets? →
“The stronger the earnings, the greater the premium buyers are willing to pay for secondhand tonnage compared to newbuilding prices,” explains Dr Adam Kent, the head of MSI. “Similarly,” he adds, “the higher the earnings the older the vessels owners are prepared to buy, that still attract a premium over the equivalent contract price.” Read … Continue reading Investigating the price ratio between newbuilds and five-year-old ships →
Stuart Nicoll, director at MSI, said that the growth of China’s shipbuilding capacity is expected to be balanced by capacity reductions in Japan and other regions. “The issue will be where to cut. Japan is likely to be the primary focus, but the biggest concerns must be within South Korea. Builders there seem to be … Continue reading Is growth in Chinese yards leading to a glut in global shipbuilding capacity? →
MSI’s Adam Kent joins Jakub Walenkiewicz on the DNV – Maritime Market Views Podcast to discuss rates and prices, black swans, red flags and the impact of tonne-miles on shipping. Listen to the Podcast at DNV Maritime
A surge in newbuild orders and a global shortage of berths have created new opportunities for private yards to expand. Stuart Nicoll, director of MSI, believes capacity is set to grow by 5m cgt between 2023 and 2028, an increase of 31%. “Things are moving very quickly.” Read more at TradeWinds.
In an excellent recent presentation given in Singapore, Dr Adam Kent, who heads up UK consultancy MSI, discussed the accumulating black swans in recent years and their links to growing volatility. Read more at Splash247.com
High tonne-mile demand as a result of tankers diverting round the Cape of Good Hope has underpinned crude and product tanker deadweight demand growth of 5.5% and 4.5% respectively so far this year. Second quarter analysis by MSI reveals that deadweight demand growth is about three times higher than growth in cargo volumes so far … Continue reading MSI affirms ‘very positive outlook’ for tanker sector →
“Opec+ output remains constrained, but production increases announced through the unwinding of voluntary cuts, mainly in Saudi Arabia, should provide some support towards the end of 2024,” Tim Smith of MSI told TradeWinds
Across China, shipyards are expanding and churning out ships on a scale not seen since 2008. The shipyard sector has entered a new golden age after more than a decade’s slump following the global financial crisis. Chinese newbuild output has “rocketed” in 2024, Stuart Nicoll, a director at MSI commented. Read more at Splash247.com.
Accelerating economic growth, improved demand, and the impact of Red Sea diversions have combined to boost shipping markets across the board in the first half of 2024, says Adam Kent, Managing Director of MSI. Read more at Seatrade Maritime
High tonne-mile demand as a result of tankers diverting round the Cape of Good Hope has underpinned crude and product tanker deadweight demand growth of 5.5% and 4.5% respectively so far this year. Read more at Seatrade Maritime.
Shipowners and analysts were in high spirits as they dissected the current market situation and its root causes at Marine Money in New York. Dr. Adam Kent, Managing Director of MSI kicked off the day’s proceedings by bringing the details into focus. Read more at Seatrade.
MSI Director Tim Smith comments in this article “The long-run view for oil demand is not necessarily the same as the view for the international oil trade,” Read more at FT.com
More shipyard capacity will be required in the coming decade, both for newbuilds and retrofits, according to an influential new magazine published at Posidonia in Athens today. New shipbuilders are forecast to emerge from Vietnam, the Philippines and India as global shipyard capacity grows gradually through to 2035, according to the ABS forecast, which uses … Continue reading More shipyard capacity needed to meet green targets →
Chinese yards were gaining ground, said Adam Kent, Managing Director at MSI. “There’s still a market perception that the Chinese quality is not as good as in Korea but that quality is [moving] closer.” Read more at FT.com
“From a pure asset play perspective and based on our outlook, now or the imminent future presents an excellent opportunity for owners to sell tonnage and maximise returns,” MSI Managing Director Dr Adam Kent told Splash Extra, pointing out that from an asset price cycle perspective, values are considerably higher than the long-term averages. Read more … Continue reading Owners advised to cash in →
Stuart Nicoll, a director at MSI, a London-based consultancy, insisted that wind power had clear benefits given steady growth in taxes on shipping emissions. Since the start of the year, ships entering EU ports have had to pay for the emissions on their journey under the bloc’s emissions-trading scheme. Read more at FT.com.
There is room for further upside in earnings even if current levels of disruption are maintained says MSI. Read more at S&P Global.
Saturday marks two years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a war that has dramatically changed the global seaborne map, some argue irrevocably. “Even if there were to be an overnight resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, we would not anticipate trade routes and volumes reverting to pre-invasion levels. Many importers are now seeking friendly … Continue reading How world shipping has transformed in the two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine →
Planets are aligned on the tanker side with a supply squeeze set to drive up asset prices. Read more at TradeWinds.
Demand for clean shipping fuels will supercharge these sectors, writes MSI Director Stuart Nicoll. Read more in Hydrogeninsight
The slots in China and South Korea for 2026 are “counted on the fingers of the hand”, while those with scheduled delivery in 2027 are now drying up at high speed. “The situation regarding the availability of slots is always complicated until the orders are confirmed. “Orderbook data shows significant yard space for 2027 (about 75% … Continue reading The competition for a place in the shipyards is getting tougher →
Oil tanker ordering remained firm in 2023, with vessels of 23.98m dwt booked. The figure increased by 3.6 times against a year ago. Maritime Strategies International (MSI) said, “Such a growth results from very large crude carriers”. Read more at Asiasis.
Demand to be transformed by increasing move from fertiliser production to bunkers. A surge in demand for clean energy is set to boost the ranks of very large ammonia carriers (VLACs) as the ammonia trade is transformed. MSI predicts the next 25 years are likely to see requirements for green and blue ammonia providing the … Continue reading Clean ammonia trade boom to swell VLAC fleet to 400 ships →
Rerouting vessels via the Cape of Good Hope clearly takes longer and consumes more fuel per unit of commodity transported than via the Suez Canal, but the costs associated with environmental regulations illustrate the perverse incentives in play, according to an investigation carried out by UK consultancy MSI. Read more at Splash247.com.
A new wave of Middle East refineries and demand for tonnage on long-haul Russian routes drove newbuilding tanker orders in 2023 to levels three times higher than the previous year, said MSI. Read more at TradeWinds.
Where are shipping markets headed in the next 12 months? Get the view of the experts in our 2024 markets outlook podcast episode. In the first episode of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast for 2024 you will hear from MSI analysts. They will be covering the macro-outlook for shipping as whole and then drilling down into … Continue reading Podcast: Shipping markets outlook for 2024 →
The disruption would need to stretch into the first quarter of 2024 to impact either the boxship charter market or a wider set of freight markets in a major way, said UK analyst MSI. Read more at Tradewinds
Mid-size tankers are the most exposed to disruption in the Red Sea with suezmax tankers accounting for a majority transits in both directions, according to MSI. Read more at TradeWinds
The shipbuilding industry, which has enjoyed a boom in orders over the past few years, is expected to see relatively poor performance in the new year of 2024, and the main types of ships ordered are expected to consist of tankers and bulkers. Read more at Asiasis
Consultancy and research company Maritime Strategies International concluded that in 2022 and 2023, newbuilding contracting massively exceeded underlying replacement and incremental demand growth requirements. “After the container-boosted wonder year of 2021, we anticipated contracting would ease back in 2022 and 2023. It now looks like around 137m gross tonnes was ordered over the two years, … Continue reading China dominates shipbuilding amid slowdown as focus shifts to tankers and bulkers →
Chinese builders have won almost half of the dual-fuel newbuilding orders over the past 18 months, MSI’s data shows. China’s relatively abundant human capital and investments compared with its foreign rivals are said to be partly why it has gained a pole position in this market. Read more at Lloyds List.
According to a quarterly analysis by the British company MSI, in August of this year the indicative shipbuilding prices were around 30% to 50% higher, compared to the levels at the end of 2020. Read more at Neatora
The arrival of the AT Honor into the Metro Maritim Intitama fleet gives the company four tankers of around 10,000-dwt with an average age of 16 years. Although the ship will likely operate in the Indonesian cabotage trade, MSI forecasts that if it continues to trade internationally, its earnings during 2024 will average $8,650 per … Continue reading Small clean tankers in demand as solid earnings and brisk sales keep values high →
After three torrid years of low profitability, a combination of falling costs and rising prices put yards on a stronger footing, writes Stuart Nicoll from MSI. Read more at Splash247.com
A lot of what’s happening economically on the ground in India mirrors China’s explosive growth at the start of the 21st century, but can the newly crowned world’s most populous nation deliver the fortunes for shipping? Read MSI’s Managing Director, Dr Adam Kent’s, thoughts on this topic at Splash247.com
The VLCC market could be on the turn after a September “disaster”, amid increased activity in the Middle East and US Gulf, according to analysts. “September’s spot market has been something of a disaster for VLCC owners,” said MSI in its monthly tanker report. Read more at TradeWinds
The trajectory of newbuild prices which have soared up by as much as 50% in less than three years is dividing experts with owners facing tricky decisions on when to kickstart fleet renewal programmes ahead of stricter 2030 green targets for shipping agreed at the International Maritime Organization this July. MSI believes that newbuild prices … Continue reading Trajectory of soaring newbuild prices divides opinion →
Tim Smith of MSI considers how changes in global energy consumption out to 2050 might impact global shipping demand. He also addresses the oft-mooted issue of ‘stranded assets’ in the context of the energy transition. Could ships become obsolete – from a technological and regulatory standpoint – before their assumed 25-year lifespan? Listen at ship.energy
The shipping industry has placed a massive bet on liquefied natural gas as an alternative fuel — as a bridge between traditional fuel oil and whatever comes next, whether it’s methanol, ammonia, hydrogen or something else. Shipowners have spent billions of dollars fitting ships to burn LNG. MSI Managing Director, Adam Kent, contributes his thoughts … Continue reading Thousands of ships could use LNG as fuel. Is that a good thing? →
The Seatrade Maritime Podcast is joined by analysts from Maritime Strategies International to take a look at the outlook for containers, tankers, dry bulk, and shipbuilding in the second half the year. Listen to the podcast at Seatrade Maritime
Holding back a newbuilding tidal wave is key to sustaining market health against as cloudy outlook, writes Tim Smith, director at MSI. Tanker markets have moved markedly lower in Q2 2023, a moderation in earnings conditions that was in line with MSI’s expectations and a consistent feature of our outlook. Read more at Splash247.com
London-based MSI, forecast the daily average spot Very Large Crude Carrier earnings at $53,800 in the July-September quarter, considering voyages to China from the US and the Persian Gulf, over 50% higher from the first quarter of 2023. Read more at S&P Global.
“After 15 years of bearishness, I’m getting bullish,” Tor Olav Trøim said recently, adding: “I look at supply and the orderbook for tankers and bulkers are at 30- to 40-year lows. There’s something interesting happening.” The low state of the tanker orderbook was covered extensively at the recent New York Marine Money conference, including via … Continue reading ‘After 15 years of bearishness, I’m getting bullish’: Tor Olav Trøim makes VLCC return →
A carbon tax is essential to helping the shipping market price next generation vessel earnings and asset values, says MSI. Read more at TradeWinds
LNG bunker price expected to start trading at a substantial discount to low-sulphur fuel from 2024, helping create a premium for charter ships burning the fuel. For dual-fuel methanol ships, the picture is less clear even with shipping included into the EU ETS, as the price for green methanol would be significantly higher, according to … Continue reading Dual-fuel ships will command charter and asset price premiums →