Maersk Broker chief executive Anders Hald and his team expressed optimism about shipping markets as the Danish broking house celebrated its annual autumn party in Tokyo.
Speaking at the event that drew Japanese shipping executives in force, he said influx of bulker newbuildings has reduced, and that has helped to balance the supply and demand picture in the dry bulk sector.
“We are cautious on demand growth, but forecasts for 2017 show overall improvement compared to last year and 2018 to be even better,” said Hald at The Rooftop Bar at the Andaz Hotel, where Maersk Broker entertained 300 guests.
On the containership front, the broking shop thinks the sector will continue to be depressed due to excess supply of tonnage because of new ships being delivered.
“We expect scrapping [of boxships] will soon regain pace and that will continue to develop positively. Accordingly, we see the market making another upward move by spring next year, with real potential for a sustainable revival in 2019 unless too much contracting of newbuildings takes place again,” he said.
For the tanker trade, Maersk Broker forecasts both the crude and products sectors will continue to be fairly dull for the coming six to 12 months.
Maersk Broker which is active on the shipbuilding industry believes newbuilding prices will gradually increase while consolidation of shipyards and reduction of global shipbuilding capacity will continue to take place.
As for the offshore market, the company says the sector has gone through the worst period but will continue to face challenges.
“We start to see the first positive signs of a slow recovery, with several oil companies having already increased their capital spending for this year,” said Hald. “Further increase is expected for 2018 onwards”.
