CIT changes ahead

Alkmaar-based DynaLiners’ latest report on the east and southern African container trades paints a bullish picture for its future outlook, with two- way container flows to/from region projected to increase by over 52% in the next five years.

These are worrying times for ocean carriers, with spot rates in many trades at historic lows. Data published by the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI) Shipping Exchange reveal that to date, 2015 has seen prices for ocean transport plummet on several routes.

Japan-based Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) has raised US$300M for its MC Seamax Shipping Opportunities Fund (SSOF), which will acquire, manage and then charter out container vessels.

The demand for new containers is expected to strengthen in the next two/three years according to Charles-Hadrien Lassalle, associate director, shipping and intermodal, ABN AMRO Bank NV’s Singapore Branch.

Bill Harrison, managing director of specialist European container leasing company, Container Leasing UK Ltd, has issued a statement ending more than six months of speculation about the future of the company.

It looks as though Fesco wants to concentrate shipping and logistics operations over facilities on the Russian Far East. This is a dramatic switch in outlook.