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Fitch Ratings’ global shipping outlook cut to negative

Published by , Editor - Hydrocarbon Engineering
Hydrocarbon Engineering,


Fitch Ratings has revised the global shipping sector outlook for 2016 to negative from stable in 2015. Fitch expects muted global trade growth and the economic slowdown in emerging markets to exacerbate overcapacity, leading to declining and volatile freight rates. But performance will vary across the segments, with dry bulk and container shipping under pressure, while tanker and LNG shipping fare better.

China's slower growth and economic transition will pose particularly significant risks for the shipping sector due to its key role in global trade, accounting for two thirds of global iron ore imports and 20% of world coal imports. Weaker demand growth will increase overcapacity, the key factor blighting the shipping sector's recovery prospects and putting pressure on freight rates. Fitch expects container shipping capacity to rise 6% in 2016 on top of a 9% increase in 2015, easily outpacing demand growth of 2% this year and 3 - 4.5% in 2016.

Shipping companies will continue to implement defensive measures including cost cutting, which will be helped by lower bunker prices, slow steaming, idling and the cancellation of sailings to achieve profitability. But we believe these measures are insufficient to lead to a protracted recovery in the sector. Rigorous capacity discipline along with a pick up in demand would be necessary to reach a sustained equilibrium.

Fitch expects larger container shipping companies that successfully implemented cost containment measures to remain profitable in 2016. But the financials of smaller, unrated, especially dry-bulk shippers will remain stretched, which will probably lead to more bankruptcies. Tanker shipping companies will outperform their peers in other segments due to more moderate fleet growth and healthy demand resulting from oil stockpiling and high refinery throughput due to low oil prices.


Adapted from press release by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/24122015/fitch-ratings-global-shipping-outlook-cut-to-negative-1946/

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