German containerised cargo shipper Hamburg Süd plans to increase its shipping volumes by 20% in 2015, the company’s CEO Ottmar Gast told the German business magazine Wirtschaftswoche.
Even though Hamburg Süd ended 2014 with a 2.5% increase in shipping volumes, the company’s sales declined from EUR 5.2 billion (USD 5.6bn) in 2013, to EUR 5.1 billion (USD 5.5bn) in 2014, which Gast attributed to falling prices and exchange rate effects.
Three new boxships are expected to join the company’s fleet in 2015, Gast said, also hinting at possible additional newbuilding orders in 2015.
However, looking ahead, Gast said the best thing for container shipping industry would be if no one ordered any new ships for the next two years.
”The global economy would continue to grow, and the current capacity would become more sought after, thus increasing the rates,” Gast told Wirtschaftswoche.
World Maritime News Staff