The hard-pressed owners of tankers have enjoyed a little encouragement in February when prices on the used market increased slightly. Sydbank also expects that tanker rates will be higher this year than last year and the periods of profit rates are significantly longer in 2013.
Details are included in the latest edition of Shippingnyt, published by Sydbank.
There is still not much consolation in dry bulk shipping companies according to Sydbank expectations. The bank writes that overcapacity at least will last far into 2013. Although dry-cargo carriers momentarily may experience some encouragement, the bank generally predicts very difficult conditions and low rates in 2013.
The rates will increase over the level of 2012 - but more durable increases, we probably only will experience in the latter part of 2013. The prices for used tankers will stabilize from here - perhaps with small increases.
In the container market in February, the spot rates decreased approx. 4 percent from January. The trend is reinforced at end of the month after the Chinese New Year. Sydbank expects that shipowners from the start will have great success with the announced rate increases of 600-700 USD / TEU from15 March, but the rate of decrease will most likely wipe out a large part of the winnings in the weeks following.