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Irish Examiner
18-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Tariff truce boosts global shipping firms
Importers rushing to ship Chinese goods to the US using a short reprieve from paralysing tariffs could provide a much-needed boost to global freighters. The surprise truce between the US and China, temporarily bringing down tariffs on each other's goods, will probably give way to a surge in transpacific shipping in the coming weeks, lifting earnings for Cosco Shipping Holdings, AP Moller-Maersk A/S, and Mitsui OSK Lines, said Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Kenneth Loh. The US has reduced combined levies on most Chinese imports to 30% from 145% for a period of 90 days, while the 125% Chinese duties on US goods will drop to 10%. Danish shipping giant Maersk saw an increase in bookings in the hours after the trade deal was announced, a welcome reprieve after cutting its forecast earlier this month. Hapag-Lloyd, the world's number five container carrier, said it's handling a 'huge surge' in volumes this week. Volumes are up more than 50% compared with recent weeks, with bookings from China to the US particularly strong, chief executive Rolf Habben Jansen said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. 'Good news' The trade agreement was 'good news,' Rodolphe Saadé, chief executive of privately-owned french shipping company CMA CGM SA, said in a hearing in the French Senate. He added that the world's third-largest container carrier had lost 50% of its volumes toward the US since the start of the trade war. 'We're likely to see a renewed front-loading surge as exporters and importers alike in China and the US attempt to capitalize on the steep cut in tariffs during this 90-day pause,' according to Mr Loh. This wave of pent-up demand is pushing up freight rates, which had been sliding since the beginning of the year, in turn boosting earnings for shipping companies. Peak season demand could be pushed even higher as the end of the 90-day reduction in tariffs between both countries will overlap with the sector's busiest period in mid-August, with China accounting for around 40% of US container imports, Citigroup Inc. analysts including Kaseedit Choonnawat said in a note. The cost for a 40-foot container from Shanghai to Los Angeles rose 16% from the prior week to $3,136 (€2,802) the biggest gain in percentage terms since December, while the Shanghai-to-New York rate jumped 19% from the previous week to $4,350, according to the Drewry World Container Index. More ship calls amid the cargo rush from China threatens to cause port congestion and bottlenecks, similar to what happened during the covid pandemic, HSBC Holdings Plc analysts including Parash Jain wrote in a note. Chinese ports including China Merchants Port Holdings, Cosco Shipping Ports. and Shanghai International Port Group. could also win market share during the period, which could narrow the cost gap with rival export hubs and trade routes, said Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Denise Wong. 'The truce will also give Chinese exporters more time for workarounds, which can potentially help sustain volumes at Chinese ports.' The front-loading might lead to higher consensus estimates, though not necessarily a 'material increase' in second-quarter earnings for container liners, said Axel Styrman, an analyst at Kepler Cheuvreux. 'Our long term view on container shipping remains cautious as we think that there will be a significant oversupply in the industry,' Deutsche Bank AG analyst Andy Chu wrote in a note, raising his recommendations on Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd to hold from sell. 'We do acknowledge that container shipping stocks are cyclical and momentum driven and that near-term demand on the China-US trade lane is set to rebound as inventory is replenished.' Still, the current rebound might be short-lived. 'The rate outlook for the second half of 2025 is weak with an expected significant downward adjustment in demand regardless of increased tariffs following expiration of the pause, and a potential reversal of the rerouting from the Red Sea via Cape of Good Hope which will amplify the downward correction,' Mr Styrman said. Bloomberg
Business Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Tariff truce spurs Pacific trade rush, boosting global shippers
[HONG KONG] Importers rushing to ship Chinese goods to the US using a short reprieve from paralysing tariffs could provide a much-needed boost to global freighters. The surprise truce between the US and China, temporarily bringing down tariffs on each other's goods, will probably give way to a surge in transpacific shipping in the coming weeks, lifting earnings for Cosco Shipping Holdings, AP Moller-Maersk A/S, and Mitsui OSK Lines, said Bloomberg Intelligence (BI) analyst Kenneth Loh. The US has reduced combined levies on most Chinese imports to 30 per cent from 145 per cent for a period of 90 days, while the 125 per cent Chinese duties on US goods will drop to 10 per cent. Danish shipping giant Maersk saw an increase in bookings in the hours after the trade deal was announced, a welcome reprieve after cutting its forecast earlier this month. While escalating trade tensions darkened the sector's outlook earlier this year and caused US-bound shipments from China to drop by a fifth in April, things are looking up again. Hapag-Lloyd, the world's No 5 container carrier, said it's handling a 'huge surge' in volumes this week. Volumes are up more than 50 per cent compared with recent weeks, with bookings from China to the US particularly strong, chief executive officer Rolf Habben Jansen said. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The trade agreement was 'good news,' Rodolphe Saade, CEO of privately-owned CMA CGM, said in a hearing in the French Senate on Monday (May 12). He added that the world's third-largest container carrier had lost 50 per cent of its volumes towards the US since the start of the trade war. 'We are likely to see a renewed front-loading surge as exporters and importers alike in China and the US attempt to capitalise on the steep cut in tariffs during this 90-day pause,' according to BI's Loh. This wave of pent-up demand is pushing up freight rates, which had been sliding since the beginning of the year, in turn boosting earnings for shipping companies. Peak season demand could be pushed even higher as the end of the 90-day reduction in tariffs between both countries will overlap with the sector's busiest period in mid-August, with China accounting for around 40 per cent of US container imports, Citigroup analysts including Kaseedit Choonnawat said in a note. The cost for a 40-foot container from Shanghai to Los Angeles rose 16 per cent from the prior week to US$3,136, the biggest gain in percentage terms since December, while the Shanghai-to-New York rate jumped 19 per cent from the previous week to US$4,350, according to the Drewry World Container Index posted on Thursday. More ship calls amid the cargo rush from China threatens to cause port congestion and bottlenecks, similar to what happened during the Covid-19 pandemic, HSBC Holdings analysts including Parash Jain wrote in a note. Chinese ports including China Merchants Port Holdings, Cosco Shipping Ports and Shanghai International Port Group could also win market share during the period, which could narrow the cost gap with rival export hubs and trade routes, said BI analyst Denise Wong. 'The truce will also give Chinese exporters more time for workarounds, which can potentially help sustain volumes at Chinese ports.' Oversupply risk The front-loading might lead to higher consensus estimates, though not necessarily a 'material increase' in second-quarter earnings for container liners, said Axel Styrman, an analyst at Kepler Cheuvreux. 'Our long-term view on container shipping remains cautious as we think that there will be a significant oversupply in the industry,' Deutsche Bank analyst Andy Chu wrote in a note, raising his recommendations on Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd to hold from sell. 'We do acknowledge that container shipping stocks are cyclical and momentum driven and that near-term demand on the China-US trade lane is set to rebound as inventory is replenished.' Still, the current rebound might be short-lived. 'The rate outlook for the second half of 2025 is weak with an expected significant downward adjustment in demand regardless of increased tariffs following expiration of the pause, and a potential reversal of the rerouting from the Red Sea via Cape of Good Hope which will amplify the downward correction,' Styrman said. BLOOMBERG
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
China's largest shipping line sees stunning gains in revenue, profits
China's largest container shipping line saw massive gains in revenue and profits in 2024. Cosco Shipping Holdings reported operating revenue of $33.29 billion in 2024, an increase of 33.29% from the previous year. The world's fourth-largest container carrier (OTC: CICOF) said earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) totaled $9.79 billion, an increase of 90.74% year over year. Net profit soared by 95% to $7.75 billion, while net profit attributable to shareholders was $6.87 billion, an increase of 105.78% from the previous of the largest shipping lines in 2024 saw remarkable gains in revenue and profits thanks to durable consumer demand in the United States, and the Red Sea crisis which led carriers to divert vessels away from the region on longer, costlier routes that helped absorb capacity and push up rates. But Costco is facing serious obstacles in the U.S., from trade tariffs and proposed port fees on Chinese ships which could add tens of millions of dollars to operating costs. Cosco is part of the Ocean Alliance with Orient Overseas Container Line of Hong Kong, which it owns; CMA CGM of France; and Taiwan's Evergreen more articles by Stuart Chirls container rates below lowest 2024 levels: Freightos Hapag-Lloyd sees mixed earnings in 2024 Port of Los Angeles sees strong container volumes in February Chassis manufacturers look to navigate supply chain, trade changes ahead The post China's largest shipping line sees stunning gains in revenue, profits appeared first on FreightWaves.
Japan Times
03-03-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
U.S. tariffs, easing of Middle East tensions threaten reversal of shipping boom
Global shippers from AP Moller-Maersk to Cosco Shipping Holdings, which logged windfall earnings last year, may see a reversal of fortunes in 2025 as a potential reopening of the Red Sea route and punitive U.S. tariffs loom. Plans by U.S. President Donald Trump to introduce new import levies are damaging trade, while the prospect of a lasting ceasefire in the Middle East could redirect traffic back through the Suez Canal, driving rates lower. Global liner rates fell 5.9% sequentially in the week ended Feb. 27, after earlier breaking below $3,000 per 12-meter container for the first time since early May, according to World Container Index data. The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index has lost 57% from its peak in July.
