A part of Watch Media

ShippingWatchSaturday28 January 2023

  • Search
  • Log in
  • Carriers
  • Logistics
  • Regulation
  • Suppliers
  • Search
  • Log in
  • Latest
  • Search
  • Log in
  • Carriers
  • Logistics
  • Regulation
  • Suppliers
  • Offshore
  • Ports
08/05/2015at 14:19

China drawing the last air out of the dry bulk sector

China's imports and exports have taken a dramatic dive over the past two months, and the trend is clear and looks set to continue. "China will not be an economy that depends on exports going forward," says senior analyst Amy Yuan Zhuang of Nordea Markets.
BY OLE ANDERSEN

The dry bulk industry's massive and historical deroute was further cemented on Friday by new depressive numbers on China's export and import in April, which developed far worse than economists and analysts expected. And the trend in the economic developments in China, which has as the dominant driving force behind the dry bulk industry for years, looks set to continue, according to senior analyst Amy Yuan Zhuang of Nordea Markets.

Do you want to stay up to date on the latest developments in International shipping? Subscribe to our newsletter – the first 40 days are free

China's export took a surprisingly big dive in April, at 6.4 percent compared to the same month last year, and even though this development is still better than March's 15 percent drop in export, the new data from China still represent a major disappointment compared to market expectations of a 2.4 percent growth, says Amy Yuan Zhuang.

The country's import in April dropped even more than the export, sliding 16.2 percent.

Like many other analysts and economists, she is highly skeptical of the growth figures pointing to around seven percent in 2015 (GNP) that the Chinese authorities frequently publish and which are likely overrated and not credible.

Source: Nordea Markets

Dry bulk meltdown could be a mere first warning

Growing demand from the US economy was neutralized by a still-slow demand from Europe and declining exports to Japan. The combined trade data increases the challenges faced by the Chinese economy.

"The export, previously seen as a stabilizer for growth this year, is now becoming a risk of additional growth setbacks. The Chinese government has more to do if it wants to spur growth," says Li Wei of Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney to Bloomberg News.

Amy Yuan Zhuang points out that the latest import and export data from China should be viewed in light of the fact that the Chinese currency is tied to the US dollar, which has increased and thus hurts China's exports.

Clear trend

The Chinese authorities have yet to publish underlying numbers on the declining export in terms of trade partners, but the trend is clear.

Do you want to stay up to date on the latest developments in International shipping? Subscribe to our newsletter – the first 40 days are free

"China will not be an economy that depends on exports going forward. This is a strategy that China has adopted and chosen back in 2009-2010, and this trend is becoming stronger and we're now noting the real effects. We've seen growth rates of 15-20 percent in the country's imports and exports, and an annual growth target of 10 percent for import and export combined. This has definitely been lowered, also in 2015," says Amy Yuan Zhuang, who projects an export growth of 4-5 percent this year.

Photo: Star Bulk
Photo: Star Bulk

She stresses that the Chinese economy is only moving in one direction in terms of the towering growth rates seen in the past decade, and that direction is down - which is only natural when looking at the overhaul China has been through as en emerging economy in the past 10 years toward a more sustainable development.

The disappoint Chinese numbers will likely pressure the government to launch additional growth stimulating initiatives to avoid a collapse of the industrial sector.

Bulk crisis until 2020

Most recently Goldman Sachs projected that the collapse in the global dry bulk industry, with the lowest rates seen in decades, could continue up until 2020 and maybe even beyond that.

Goldman Sachs states that the main explanation is far too many dry bulk vessels combined with several structural conditions, not least the shift in China's economy from production and investments to a far more consumer-driven economy in the years to come.

The assessment from the US-based financial company joins a long list of depressing forecasts for dry bulk owners and operators, where the extremely low bulk rates are adding further to the fear that this development is also caused by declining trade between the Asian countries with fewer export orders across the region, which results in reduced demand for dry bulk vessels.

Do you want to stay up to date on the latest developments in International shipping? Subscribe to our newsletter – the first 40 days are free

International banks and analyst agencies across the board have been busy downgrading the dry bulk industry since late 2014 following the developments in China. Danish Ship Finance has for years been warning that structural changes in the Chinese economy combined with the enormous supply of dry bulk vessels constitutes a dangerous cocktail that could strike the market in 2015-2016.

"When we look at the Chinese growth rate of around seven percent, which used to be around ten percent, then of course that represents a lower growth target for the Chinese economy, though still a high growth. The question is whether this growth is as dry bulk intensive as it has been in the past, and my point is just that we're currently seeing a rebalanced growth in China that's about to be driven by different factors than we're used to. China is in the midst of introducing its service sector as the third growth engine. It's expected to be just as good at generating growth as the other sectors, but it's not shipping intensive, especially not in terms of dry bulk," said Christopher Rex, chief analyst at Danish Ship Finance, one year ago in relation to the biannual analysis published by the Danish lender to the shipping industry.

Carriers must get to work

And similarly, Jens Ismar, CEO of major Norwegian carrier Western Bulk, stressed that demand will not save the dry bulk carriers as it did back in 2008. Rather, he emphasized, the industry needs to act on its own to reduce the gap between the massive supply of ships and the shortage of demand.

"The first quarter was a bad quarter, and this has continued into this quarter. Perhaps slightly less volatile, but we're not seeing any real market improvements anytime soon. During the financial crisis in 2008 the market was saved by a strong demand, especially from China. That's not going to happen now, and the gap between supply and demand will need to be closed by reducing the supply through scrapped vessels, cancellations or postponing newbuildings. So the industry will have to do the work needed to rebalance the market by adjusting the supply of tonnage, because there won't be any help to get from demand this time around," he told ShippingWatch this week in relation to Western Bulk's first quarter interim report.

Western Bulk: Only the industry can change dreadful bulk market

China's plunge in exports surprisingly big in April

Goldman Sachs: Dry bulk crisis until 2020

Clipper looking at opportunities in collapsed bulk market

Scorpio Bulkers in USD 52.1 million net loss for Q1 

Related articles:

  • Photo: Foto: Western Bulk

    Western Bulk: Only the industry can change dreadful bulk market

  • Photo: Georg Hammerstein/POLFOTO/ARKIV

    China's plunge in exports surprisingly big in April

    For subscribers

  • Photo: Rotterdam Havn

    Goldman Sachs: Dry bulk crisis until 2020

    For subscribers

Sign up for our newsletter

Stay ahead of development by receiving our newsletter on the latest sector knowledge.

!
Newsletter terms

Front page now

Foto: Höegh Autoliners
Carriers

Car carriers have rarely seen such profits: "We are probably at an all-time high"

After a difficult time during the pandemic, 2022 has exceeded all expectations for car carriers, says chief exec of Höegh Autoliners. Low capacity and electric cars out of China are main factors in elevating prices.
  • Norwegian carrier lands another large gas deal with Germany
  • Höegh Autoliners joins climate coalition

For subscribers

Foto: Markus Scholz/AP/Ritzau Scanpix
Container

Maersk rebrands Hamburg Süd and several other well-known subsidiaries

For subscribers

Foto: Ints Kalnins/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix/REUTERS / X02120
Tanker

Fredriksen now owns nearly as many Euronav shares as the Saverys family

For subscribers

”Blue Water wants to grow – but it will be with a focus on profitable growth, and we will hold on to our strong values, unique customer focus and high level of satisfaction among both customers and personnel,” states Kurt Skov, founder and departing chair at Blue Water Shipping. | Foto: Carsten Andreasen/Ritzau Scanpix
Logistics

Blue Water founder promises future "focus on profitable growth"

For subscribers

Foto: Tatiana Meel/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix
Regulation

EU considers capping Russian fuel prices at USD 100 a barrel

For subscribers

Foto: Statoil/AP/Ritzau Scanpix
Offshore

Borr Drilling raises USD 400m to pay off debt

For subscribers

Further reading

Chief execs of Maersk and MSC, Vincent Clerc and Søren Toft, acknowledges that much have changed for the carriers since launching the 2M alliance. For that reason, the partnership is now ended. | Foto: Jacob Gronholt-pedersen/reuters/ritzau Scanpix og Jason Decrow/ap/ritzau Scanpix
Container

End of 2M alliance could trigger a domino effect

A new reality on freight markets and a need for fewer ties could be main reasons behind MSC and Maersk terminating their partnership. More alliance dissolutions could be coming, according to shipping analyst.

For subscribers

Foto: Markus Scholz/AP/Ritzau Scanpix
Container

Maersk rebrands Hamburg Süd and several other well-known subsidiaries

Hamburg Süd will lose its company name and gradually be integrated into the Maersk brand. A number of other subsidiaries face rebranding as well.

For subscribers

Foto: Höegh Autoliners
Carriers

Car carriers have rarely seen such profits: "We are probably at an all-time high"

After a difficult time during the pandemic, 2022 has exceeded all expectations for car carriers, says chief exec of Höegh Autoliners. Low capacity and electric cars out of China are main factors in elevating prices.

For subscribers

Latest news

  • Blue Water founder promises future "focus on profitable growth" – 27 Jan
  • Borr Drilling raises USD 400m to pay off debt – 27 Jan
  • Income for ice class tankers has surged by 1,644 percent following sanctions – 27 Jan
  • Floating power station to provide energy for one million Ukrainians – 27 Jan
  • Maersk rebrands Hamburg Süd and several other well-known subsidiaries – 27 Jan
  • Car carriers have rarely seen such profits: "We are probably at an all-time high" – 27 Jan
  • Fredriksen now owns nearly as many Euronav shares as the Saverys family – 27 Jan
  • EU considers capping Russian fuel prices at USD 100 a barrel – 27 Jan
  • New partnership to investigate potential human rights abuse at sea – 27 Jan
  • Singaporean competition authorities to probe DSME sale – 27 Jan
See all

Jobs

  • Foundation Package Manager - Offshore wind industry

  • Chartering Manager for Lauritzen Bulkers A/S

  • Junior Finance Business Partner - offshore wind industry

  • Senior Lead, Human Sustainability at Sea

  • Financial Controller for International Shipping Company

  • Copenhagen Shipping Company is hiring a skilled cargo broker

Jobs

  • Foundation Package Manager - Offshore wind industry

  • Chartering Manager for Lauritzen Bulkers A/S

  • Junior Finance Business Partner - offshore wind industry

  • Senior Lead, Human Sustainability at Sea

  • Financial Controller for International Shipping Company

  • Copenhagen Shipping Company is hiring a skilled cargo broker

See all jobs

Colophon

ShippingWatch
Search

Sections

  • Carriers
  • Logistics
  • Regulation
  • Suppliers
  • Offshore
  • Ports
  • Sitemap
  • RSS feeds

Editor

Tomas Kristiansen

tk@shippingwatch.dk

Tel.: +45 3330 8360

Editor-in-chief

Anders Heering

Publisher

JP/Politiken Media Group Ltd

Advertising

annoncering@infowatch.dk

Tel.: +45 7077 7445

Advertising

Job Advertising

job@infowatch.dk

Tel.: +45 7077 7445

Jobs

Subscription

Try ShippingWatch or get an offer for a subscription meeting the exact needs of you or your company.

shippingwatch@infowatch.dk

Tel.: +45 7077 7445

Learn more about subscriptions here

Address

ShippingWatch

Rådhuspladsen 37

1785 Copenhagen K, Denmark

Tel.: +45 3330 8360

Guidelines

  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © ShippingWatch — All rights reserved

Microsoft is in the process of discontinuing Internet Explorer – and so are we.
For a better experience, we recommend using one of the following browsers.

Kind regards,
ShippingWatch

Google ChromeMozilla FirefoxMicrosoft Edge