Filtering Data Imports From the Client Server into Excel
When importing data from our client server into Excel you can filter the quantity of data brought in. This will speed up processing time when setting up and refreshing data. It will also reduce your [...]
Maritime Zones
We've split the world into 20 zones to help with your data analysis. Sometime you want to see regional changes in areas, for example, like the Black Sea or the Mediterranean. Often these area don’t [...]
Will Agribulk Trade Mirror Food Shortages?
Agribulk trade in Odessa, Ukraine: Loading grain into holds of sea cargo vessel through an automatic line in seaport from silos of grain storage. Introduction The UN’s World Food Programme has warned that [...]
Grain Trade and War
The war has led to the closure of Ukrainian Black Sea ports. Sanctions are starting to block Russian grain trade shipments. Large war risk premiums are deterring bulk carriers from trading out of the Black [...]
Understand Global Cement Trade: 101 Guide
Cement trade in Context Concrete is the world’s most widely used manufactured material. With 14 billion cubic meters produced in 2020, the main uses are in the construction of buildings, homes, roads, bridges, tunnels, dams, [...]
Blip, Blip, Blob – Chinese AIS Receivers Switched Off
In the last few weeks, vessels have been disappearing off AIS systems around the Chinese coast. Apparently, the reason is the commencement of two new data protection laws. They are the Data Security Law [...]
Do Container Freight Rates Impact Bulker Volumes?
The fluctuation of both container and bulk freights rates have led many to assume there is a large volume of bulk cargo that can transition between the two carrier types. For many analysts it’s been [...]
Multipurpose Vessel Insight – Riding High
The Multipurpose Vessel (MPV) fleet is often little understood and a confusing sector. Luckily we have Susan Oatway from Drewry who is an expert. She has just published their quarterly update. Susan has a distinguished [...]
Is winter Coming? The Weather Impact on the Energy Crisis
Long range weather forecasting is never an exact science. Nowadays the boffins at weather organisations have a fair idea how severe a winter can be. They look at various metrics not known to the casual [...]
Don’t Panic! – The Outlook for Energy Supply
We had a strange situation in the UK this week. There was a run on petrol/gasoline. Petrol stations were low on stocks due to a lorry driver shortage. Rather than people using fuel more [...]
Coal’s Last Hurrah?
This year has seen a string of disasters around the globe involving wildfires, drought and flooding. These events have driven environmental concerns up the political ladder and made coal Public Enemy No. 1 for [...]
The Coup in Guinea – What does it mean for Shipping?
The coup in Guinea happened on the morning of September 5th, the capital, Conakry, came under fire. President Alpha Conde was overthrown by soldiers, led by Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, head of Guinea’s special [...]
Shipping Decarbonisation – Get the Basics
In our `Learn from the Best` series we interviewed Mark Williams from Shipping Strategy about shipping decarbonisation and the energy transition. In our conversation, Mark talks us through technological advancements, new regulations, [...]
Come gRain or Shine – How Good is the New Grain Season?
Agricultural exports from the Northern Hemisphere's grain season have been facing turbulence under extreme weather conditions. We’ve researched the situation surrounding the coming grain season harvest to bring you an overall picture of the [...]
Jet Fuel Markets Amid the Pandemic
In a constantly moving world, global restrictions due to Covid-19 created intense pressure on the aviation industry. Undoubtedly, jet fuel trade amid the pandemic suffered significant losses. With the first half of 2021 already [...]
Coal is on Fire!
In the last 3 months the coal price has leaped from $90 per tonne, to nearly $150 per tonne at the end of July. This makes it one of the best performing global commodities. [...]
OPEC Decision Brings Optimism For Tankers
Crude oil trade was becoming uncertain amid the recent decisions of OPEC surrounding production levels. Limited supply caused prolonged high prices of oil. Although this was expected to be a transient situation, it was [...]
Is ‘Volatility’ Code for “I Don’t Have a Clue”?
Is the term 'volatility' code for “I Don’t Have a Clue”? When an analyst uses the word ‘volatility’ during a shipping presentation, I can’t help but fear they aren't actually sure what the future [...]
More Than Luck: China Challenges Steep Commodity Prices
There are several factors weighing in on China’s trade influence: pandemic effects, trade spats and last but not by any means least, challenges with high commodity prices. Agriculture imports keep China’s trade healthy, whereas [...]
5 Tactics for Choosing the Right Maritime Software
As a maritime analyst, you want to maximize your analytical ability for your budget. Therefore, you need the best maritime software available on the market. How do you decide on your magical combination of [...]
African Trade – A Slow Burner
Africa exports more than it imports. Whilst African Trade is a slow burner, it's interesting to note where these commodities arrive and depart from. North Africa tends to be the major importer. Whereas South [...]
India’s Trade in the Second Wave
India is the 3rd largest dry cargo importer and 2nd largest tanker importer. Based on the country’s trade performance in recent years, India is considered as one of the world’s largest emerging market economies [...]
Are You Following Commodity Prices?
Every once in a while, the dry bulk market seems to take off. Last time it was when China forgot to tell the world that it was reforming its economy. Now, it's because of [...]
Dry Cargo Freight Rates Mystery
It's fair to say that the dry bulk market has caught everybody by surprise in quarter one. For the last 10 years, quarter one freight rates have always been a disappointment with the advent [...]
To Be Or Not To LNG – The Role of Carbon Bridge Fuels
Decarbonization has shot up the global priority list, even with the advent of Coronavirus. Environmental conscientiousness has grown to be at the forefront of today’s minds and businesses. Despite LNG being the cleanest fossil [...]
Self-Raising: Southern Grain Production Soars
The peak season for grain production is coming to an end in the Southern Hemisphere. Brazil and Australia have proved to be strong performers for Agricultural exports, compensating for the difficulties Argentina has been [...]
The Tanker Market: In Need of Good Fortune
Tanker markets started the new year tentatively, with dragging effects of the pandemic. OPEC continues to be unswerving in its oil production policy. Along with this comes the impact of the unforeseen incident in [...]
Ever Stuck: The Cargoes Exposed by the Suez Incident…
As congestion grows in the Suez Canal, how can cargo trade impacts be anticipated? Container trades have the most to lose. A key trading route for consumer goods from Asia to Europe is blocked. [...]
South East Asia – The Battle for China’s Backyard
Within shipping and global trade, major players such as China and America appear to permanently dominate the industry. Yet positive growth rate for South-East Asia's bulk trade in recent years has directly impacted the [...]
How to Forecast Trade in a Pandemic – Part 2
Recap from last time No one can deny that the maritime industry faced many challenges during 2020. Coronavirus was, and remains the challenge of the current era. However, what does the big picture show? [...]
How to Forecast Trade in a Pandemic – Part 1
Black Swan or White Swan? Since its entrance on world stage, Coronavirus has torn up the script. Although heralded as a black swan event (Nassim Taleb in the Black swan published in 2007), [...]
US Trade Trap – Bulker Performance During Trump Years
Trump started a trade war with China during his first year as President in 2017. It was and remains a strategy with not only economic losses for the two powerful traders, but also changes [...]
China Brings Balance to a Turbulent Tanker Market – A Review of 2020
History will probably look back at 2020 as a key marker for trend change in a turbulent tanker market. China plays again the major role in this field, without this surprising anyone. It was [...]
Shipping is the Winner of the Trade Dispute… For Now
China’s Trade dispute with Australia provided a bonus for an already strong dry bulk market. But who will emerge as winners? Time will tell. However, the event has boosted freight rates. Vessels taken out [...]
Could Soaring Container Rates Benefit Bulker Vessels?
The Shipping sector is going through a significantly volatile period. The pandemic has changed the rules of the game, which seems more unpredictable than ever. The consequences of the pandemic have spread into almost [...]
If Shipping Were Chocolates…
Some flavours are perfectly acceptable, palatable to nearly everyone. Some are a bit nasty and are always left behind. And some are worth fighting for. In Shipping, just like Revels chocolates there are always [...]
Could US-Iran tensions increase tanker tonne-miles?
Following the killing of the Iranian military general Soleimani, tension between the US and Iran are running high. Retaliation by Iran for the attack has taken place but how vulnerable is the Strait of [...]
Where has the Chinese trade data gone?
Something very odd happened in June this year. The Chinese customs authority stopped publishing their detailed trade statistics, citing a ‘technical problem’. Commentators believe its one of the retaliatory measures against the US caused [...]
The Future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Shipping
AI, as it’s usually called, can be defined as the ability of machines to mimic cognitive functions, such as learning and problem-solving, that humans associate with other human minds. Computers can detect problems and [...]