Chemical Shipping Market News

Chemical shipping freight rates will weaken through 2018 due to the depressed outlook on overtonnaged long haul routes, according to the latest edition of the Chemical Forecaster, published by global shipping consultancy Drewry. The global chemical trade grew by a little over 4% in 2017, while overall tonne-mile demand expanded by almost 5%. Despite continuing global economic growth, Drewry expects seaborne chemical trade to grow by 2.5% in 2018 and tonne-mile demand by 1.6%, reflecting a slowdown in long-haul trip growth. Increasing self-sufficiency in base chemicals in Asian countries is a definite threat to long-haul trades. The global chemical capable fleet increased by 3.9% in tonnage terms in 2017.

Subdued ordering and a narrowing in the tonnage supply-demand gap from late 2018 is expected to support a recovery in the chemical shipping market, according to the latest edition of the Chemical Forecaster, published by global shipping consultancy Drewry. Drewry estimates that tonne-mile demand of chemical commodities will grow at 3.8% on a year-on-year basis in 2017, of which the organic trade is likely to grow only at 1.5%. By contrast, inorganic and vegoil tonne-miles are expected to increase by 6.3% and 6.5%. Drewry estimates that the global chemical trade will grow at 3.3% in 2017, owing to the strong vegetable oil trade from Southeast Asia to South Asia.

The shipping fleet trading in chemical and vegoil markets is expected to accelerate at a much faster pace than demand, weakening earning prospects, according to the latest edition of the Chemical Forecaster, published by global shipping consultancy Drewry. Drewry estimates that tonne-mile demand will grow at 2.9% in 2017, and the fleet trading in chemicals/vegoils will expand by 9.5% by the end of this year, the highest fleet growth observed in recent years. The chemical shipping market is facing severe oversupply because of new deliveries and swing tankers returning to the chemical/vegoils trade and seeking employment in this market. The orderbook still contains 9% of the existing capacity to be delivered by 2021 and the deliveries of MR tankers will also contribute to rapid growth.

The chief executive of Bulknet.com will shortly close a $25-$30 million round of financing for his month-old Internet site, which he hopes will dominate online bookings for chemicals shipping. Mark Bitting said the financing, following an initial round that raised less than $1 million, should give the company a big head start on Internet competitors hoping to capture some of the multi-billion dollar chemical shipping market. "We're the only ones in this industry that have attacked e-commerce," he said, but added that he expects steep competition down the road given the number of other "dot-com" companies out there putting money into systems. The company has signed up 41 of the largest U.S.

Business Lines report that MISC Bhd has experienced its best performance over the past 20 years in the chemical shipping market. Freight rates for shipping chemicals reached historical highs in the second half of 2004, exceeding previous peaks of 1991 and 1995. The firmer freight rates are the result of demand outstripping supply for the more sophisticated chemical vessels and the lack of shipyard space to build stainless steel chemical vessels. The demand for chemical vessels has also edged up as countries such as India and Pakistan restrict vessels which are more than 25 years from entering their ports. Taking advantage of this market situation the carrier has placed orders for additional four chemical tankers.