Container Lines Speed up Their Assault on Reefer Cargo
Container shipping lines are increasing their share of the seaborne reefer market and are forecast to accelerate their assault over the coming years, according to the latest edition of the Reefer Shipping Market Review and Forecast 2017/18 published by global shipping consultancy Drewry. In 2016, the estimated perishable reefer cargo split was 79% in reefer containerships and 21% in specialised reefers. By 2021 this modal split is forecast to have changed to nearer 85% and 15% in reefer containerships and specialised reefers respectively. One interesting development in 2017 saw specialised reefer operator Seatrade team-up with CMA CGM to provide a 13-vessel reefer container service offering a weekly sailing between Europe and Australasia.
Perishable Reefer Trade Growth to Remain Strong
Despite many adversities for the maritime sector over the last year, seaborne perishable reefer trade increased in 2015 – and is forecast to grow further still in 2016. By 2020, seaborne reefer cargo will reach a staggering 120 million tonnes – increasing by an average of 2.5% per annum, according to the latest edition of the Reefer Shipping Market Review and Forecast 2016/17, published by global shipping consultancy Drewry. While future seaborne cargo growth levels are lower than those of the last decade (3.1%), such increases will have a direct effect on both container lines with reefer capacity and specialised reefer operators. With over 400 containerships with reefer capacity yet to be delivered…
Analysts Expect Rise in Reefer Capacity
Though specialized reefer fleet is shrinking and shows no signs of reversing in the future, the reefer containership fleet has increased by 15 percent year-on-year and is set to grow 20 percent by 2018, according to maritime research and consulting services provider Drewry’s latest Reefer Shipping Market Annual Review & Forecast. Consequently, with a capacity restricted specialized fleet, there is no alternative but for cargo to be shipped by reefer containership, a trend Drewry says is accelerating with continued cargo growth.
Drewry: Reefer Box Capacity to Grow 22%
Reefer capacity on the containership fleet is expected to increase by 22% over the next five years, at the expense of a declining specialized reefer fleet, according to Drewry's latest Reefer Shipping Market Annual Review & Forecast. Reefer box capacity is expected to grow from 1.6 million 40ft slots in 2013 to 1.9 million slots in 2018. However, this fleet growth is not expected to adversely impact vessel utilization levels thanks to strong cargo growth. Reefer container volumes are forecast to rise by 20.5 million tonnes over this period…
Trade Increase Hides Specialized Reefer Vessels Uncertainty
Drewry’s latest Reefer Shipping Market Annual Review and Forecast reports that worldwide perishable reefer trade increased by 52.1 million metric tons between 2002 and 2012, which represents by a combined annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6%. Seaborne perishable reefer cargo has increased by a CAGR of 3.3% (25.6 million metric tons) from 66.8 million metric tons in 2002 to 92.4 million metric tons in 2012. The highest percentage growth continues to be seen in the exotic fruit category (pineapples, kiwifruit and avocadoes). Despite its relatively small volume of 4.5 million metric tons in 2012, this sector has grown by a CAGR of 9.1% since 2002. In terms of tonnage, the highest growth has been in the meat category (comprising poultry, pork, beef/veal, offal and sheep meat).
