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Monday, 30 March 15
WORST IS OVER FOR THE DRY BULK MARKET, BUT THE PAIN WILL REMAIN FOR YEARS TO COME, SAYS BIMCO CHIEF ANALYST - HELLENIC SHIPPING
 The current demise of the dry bulk market isn’t one to go away anytime soon. That doesn’t mean that it can’t improve, with all ship classes expected to cover their operating costs by May. Meanwhile, demolition activity isn’t enough, at least thus far, to offset oversupply of tonnage in the dry bulk market. It’s one of the reasons behind the downfall of the market in the past few months.
In an exclusive interview with Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide, BIMCO’s Chief Shipping Analyst, Mr. Peter Sand, said that the organization expects a fleet growth of 19m DWT for 2015, while already 8m DWT of bulkers have been scrapped. However, the market fundamentals remain negative, despite increasing demand during the current quarter. As Mr. Sand puts it, “we need multiple years of demand outstripping supply to turn the tables. The fact that demand may be fading somewhat now with China in an economical transition phase is not making prospects any better”.
Traditionally, the second quarter of the year signals the rebound of the dry bulk market, at least in terms of demand, with the grain/soya trades of South America kicking in. What’s your estimates about the demand side of the equation in the market going forward?
BIMCO is comfortable that demand for dry bulk ships is improving in Q2 as compared to Q1. Primarily due to increased volumes of soya and iron ore getting seaborne out of South America. Most focus will be on Brazil, with Argentina in a supporting role as soya exporter. It is positive for shipping volumes that Argentina is on track for a record harvest with 5% gathered already and the combined soybean production for Argentina and Brazil, as estimated by USDA, is to hit an all-time high at 150 million tonnes.
Nevertheless, we have to remain patient as regards to increased iron ore exports out of Brazil. In our recently published dry bulk market report we stated that Australia “won the battle” of increased sales to the Chinese in 2014. Additionally, “BIMCO expects that they will not let go of the lead in 2015, at the expense of long-haul shipping demand from Brazil.” Insight provided by Commodore Research & Consultancy supports this view – unfortunately.
For the full year, BIMCO expects demand a bit lower than estimated at the end of 2014. We are currently looking at 3-4% growth down from 4-5%. Key importer, China, is the main culprit behind this revision.
With the market plunging to all-time lows during February, do you think that the worst is behind us? Would you say that this time around, the main reason behind the dry bulk market’s demise is low demand or tonnage oversupply, which was deemed as the main “culprit” in the past?
The pain will stick around for a number of years even though the worst is behind us. The second dry bulk recovery in recent years from the trough in 2012 lasted until the autumn of 2014 where it became apparent how fragile it was. Mostly brought down by overcapacity, but also a tendency that the demand side would not remain as strong as it had been for the past decade or two. Key trigger behind this is of course the decline in coal imports from China, the still lack of nickel ore and bauxite imports and the fact that most importers (excl. China) is still not back at levels reached in 2007-2008!
If you try to look back on the big fleet growth years of 2009-2012, it grew by an annual average of 13.1%. All of those years the overcapacity increased. In 2013-2014, the fleet grew by an annual average of 5.1%, which is much more balanced, but it does not change the fact that the overcapacity is still here. We need multiple years of demand outstripping supply to turn the tables. The fact that demand may be fading somewhat now with China in an economical transition phase is not making prospects any better.
Can India support the market in a few years’ time, much like China did since the early 2000’s?
India is becoming more and more important to the dry bulk market, but they are still not to be seen as “a new China”. The two nations are very different and their development paths not alike. Unleashing the potential of India will be done at slower pace providing a solid level of demand growth going forward.
Given the challenging conditions which have prevailed so far in the market, when do you expect to see rates back above operating expenses, if not for all, at least for the majority of vessels?
BIMCO forecast freight rates for all dry bulk ships to remain below USD 9,000 per day for March-May. The trend is seen up – meaning that they should all be above OPEX cost levels in May. That is if we assume OPEX between USD 4,500 per day for the Handies going up to USD 7,500 for the Capes.
Looking at OPEX alone means Handies, which is making USD 5,766 per day in the current market, and Supras, which is making USD 6,772 per day, is getting OPEX covered. Panamaxes and Capesizes are not.
Beyond OPEX, you need to look at capital costs too. Interests, repayments, and/or depreciations on the fleet often means more to profitability than OPEX does. So in order to be “back into the black” all costs must be covered – freight rates must reach OPEX times two or three, as a rule of thumb, to earn money for supporting a going concern.
How important has the fall in bunker prices been for shipping companies, given the reduction of their operating costs? Would we have seen more bankruptcies in the segment, according to your view?
Cutting the bunker costs in halves is definitely a sizeable cost reduction on the voyage related expenditures. A cost reduction for the one paying for the fuel, that is. So who does that?
Mostly the spot operators working on a USD per tonnes basis, paying the fuel themselves, reap the benefits. So reaping the benefits of a falling cost item is a matter of negation skills too. In case your ship is out on charter, the charterer gets the cost reduction, as the owner is not paying voyage related expenditures. OPEX is only impacted to a minor extent as the price for lubricants may follow the oil price down somewhat.
Will the Capesize segment lead the way “out of the mud” once more?
Without doubt. Why? Because the demand picture as we see at BIMCO is very much biased towards the larger ship sizes of Panamax and Capesizes, whereas the demand situation for the two smaller segments is more slow growing. Bear in mind though that the current drop in rates was also lead by Capes, indicating a “normalized” market condition, but as Capes also took the deepest dive it becomes clear that overcapacity is still significant also for Capesize segment.
In this market environment, which options have ship owners to cut their losses? Out of demolition, slow steaming, or lay ups, which is the preferable choice at the moment?
All options are open, but the only significant one and most widely applied is slow steaming. Fortunately also the most effective one to counterbalance oversupply. Downside however is that is has a temporary nature as compared to demolition of a ship, which has a permanent effect on fleet growth, nominal and actual.
Demolition is also being used as a tool to turn around fortunes. The poor condition of the markets means BIMCO is forecasting total volume of dry bulk ship capacity to go higher than in 2014. Our estimate is 19m DWT for 2015 with some 8m DWT scrapped already.
In terms of investments, have asset prices adjusted accordingly either in the S&P or the newbuilding markets? Is it a good time to invest in modern tonnage, price-wise?
Newbuilding prices have not hit the floor yet; they are still by some distance higher than in 2012. Second hand prices have tumbled the most with all but Capesizes now below the 2012-lows. Capes being on par. Second hand prices has gone down by 40% over the past year, with older ships taking the biggest hits. Is now a time to invest, price-wise? Well, the return on investment seems to be potentially higher elsewhere. Despite many reasons to pick a newbuilt instead of a second hand – the eventual arrival of a more balanced market would all other things being equal be postponed by adding more tonnage to the market without removing the equivalent capacity. Should you be in need of extra tonnage, the market would be better off if those ships are found in the second hand market.
Source: Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping News
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Sunday, 05 April 15
FREIGHT RATES UNDER PRESSURE WEEK OVER WEEK
COALspot.com: The Indices fell on all segments and the market seemed to soften this week.
The BDI was almost lost 1.34% week over week and clo ...
Saturday, 04 April 15
BORYEONG POWER OF KOMIPO TO BUY TOTALED 695K MT OF HIGH AND LCV COAL
COALspot.com - Korea Midland Power Co. Ltd. (KOMIPO) is inviting bids from coal producers, marketing companies, or traders to supply of 500000 Metr ...
Friday, 03 April 15
U.S WEEKLY COAL PRODUCTION STAYS FLAT
COALspot.com – United States the second largest coal producer in the world has produced approximately totaled an estimated 18.3 million short ...
Friday, 03 April 15
TOBA BARA'S PANDU SJAHRIR ELECTED AS NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE INDONESIAN COAL MINING ASSOCIATION
COALspot.com: Pandu Sjahrir, the Vice President Director & CFO of the Jakarta-listed PT Toba Bara Sejahtra — a subsidiary of PT Toba Seja ...
Thursday, 02 April 15
GOVERNMENT MUST WORK WITH MINING, NOT AGAINST IT - PANDU SJAHRIR
The Coal Face: The coal price has hit its lowest point in recent memory
My father used to say to me that his children are his biggest inv ...
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- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Australian Coal Association
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Planning Commission, India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- White Energy Company Limited
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- The University of Queensland
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