Moore Stephens: Shipping Confidence at Three-and-a-Half-Year High

Shipping confidence held steady at its highest rating in the past three-and-a-half years in the three months to end-November 2017, shipping adviser Moore Stephens said. 

The average confidence level expressed by respondents in Moore Stephens’ Shipping Confidence Survey was unchanged at the level of 6.2 out of 10.0 recorded in the previous survey in August 2017.

Confidence on the part of charterers was significantly up, from 4.7 to 7.7, the highest rating recorded for this category of respondent since the survey was launched in May 2008 with an overall rating of 6.8.

Managers — up from 5.8 to 6.1 — were also more optimistic, while brokers’ confidence was unchanged at 6.3. The rating for owners, however, fell from 6.5 to 6.4.

Confidence levels were down in Asia, from 6.4 to 5.7, and unchanged in Europe and North America, at 6.3 and 5.8 respectively.

The likelihood of respondents making a major investment or significant development over the next 12 months was down from 5.4 to 5.3 out of 10.0. Charterers’ confidence, however, was up from 4.0 to 6.2. Expectations on the part of owners and brokers were up from 5.8 to 5.9 and from 4.4 to 5.3 respectively, but down from 5.4 to 5.3 for managers. Asian respondents — down from 5.9 to 5.0 — were less confident in this regard, but in North Americ, the rating was up from 4.9 to 5.4. In Europe, expectations held steady at 5.2, according to Moore Stephens.

Although overall expectations of making major investments over the next 12 months were marginally down on the three-year high recorded in the previous survey, several respondents saw encouraging signs of recovery, and potential for further improvement, particularly in the dry bulk sector.

59% of respondents expected finance costs to increase over the coming year, up from 50% last time to equal the highest figure since October 2008. Owners’ expectations were up from 48% to 54%, while the increase for charterers was from 67% to 83%, and for brokers from 42% to 60%. Managers, meanwhile, recorded a fall from 62% to 61%.

Despite a fall from 27% to 23%, demand trends continued to be the factor expected to influence performance most significantly over the coming 12 months followed by competition and finance costs.

“Shipping continues to be volatile and unstable, with an oversupply of tonnage, and new finance continuing to pour in, while geopolitical issues and new regulations are causing disruption,” one respondent commented.

The number of respondents expecting higher freight rates over the next 12 months in the tanker market was down by 1% on the previous survey to 44%, while there was a one-percentage-point fall, to 13%, in those anticipating lower rates. There was a six-percentage-point fall, to 50%, in the numbers expecting higher rates in the dry bulk sector, and a five-percentage-point increase to 12% in the numbers anticipating lower rates. In the container ship sector, the numbers expecting higher rates dropped by four percentage points to 36%, while there was a two-percentage-point fall, to 15%, in those anticipating lower container ship rates.

Net sentiment was positive in all the main tonnage categories. It was unchanged in the tanker market at +31, but down in the dry bulk market from +49 to +38, and in the container ship sector from +23 to +21.

“Charterers are leading the way in terms of improved confidence and appetite for new investment. There is optimism in the dry bulk trades, and evidence of continuing improved confidence in the gas sector. The Baltic Dry Index, meanwhile, has risen by over 50% in the past six months, and net sentiment in all three main tonnage categories remains positive,” Richard Greiner, partner, Shipping & Transport, said.

“A slowdown in newbuilding activity has started to redress the imbalance in supply and demand, and that should be reflected in improved freight rates. There is an appetite for investment, and finance is available. The shipping recovery might not yet be fully under way, but 2017 may come to be regarded as the year when the downward spiral was halted,” Greiner added.

Image Courtesy:  Moore Stephens, Pixabay