Daily Briefing December 4 2019
Free to read: National Bank of Greece in talks to unload more shipping loans to Cross Ocean | Chinese ownership of foreign ports concerns are ‘overstated’ | Top 10 flag states 2019 | Supply chain braces for the next revolution
Good morning. Here’s our quick view of everything you need to know today.
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What to watch | Analysis | Opinion | Markets | In other news
What to watch
National Bank of Greece is in talks about selling at least two more shipping loans to a private equity firm without the knowledge of the Greek clients, according to people familiar with the negotiations.
Fears about Chinese terminal operators taking a disproportionate market share beyond their own region have been overstated, according to Drewry senior analyst Neil Davidson.
Analysis
Top 10 flag states 2019: While there is no change at the top, with Panama leading the pack, the most notable difference to last year’s report has been Liberia’s rise to second place, overtaking the Marshall Islands, in terms of gross tonnage.
Robotics, artificial intelligence and blockchain are changing the face of logistics. But companies will have to act fast to keep up with the pace of change.
Opinion
The Lloyd’s List group will launch 2020 with its annual Executive Meeting of shipping leaders and analysts to share views on how best to navigate what is forecast be a year of instability. Speakers will include Lena Sellgren, chief economist, Business Sweden (left) and Michelle Wiese Bockmann, markets editor, Lloyd’s List.
Lloyd’s List will merge Lloyd’s List Containers and The Intelligence in 2020, offering subscribers a more timely and in-depth monthly publication.
What will be the key issues shaping shipping during the next 12 months? Take part in the Lloyd’s List Annual Market Survey and have your say on the big questions that will determine the shipping market outlook for 2020.
Markets
While sending negative signals on trade, will US tariffs on steel from Brazil and Argentina have a muted effect on dry bulk shipping because the volumes affected are small in the grand scheme of things, or will it prove to be positive? The answer lies in whether Brazil can find alternative buyers.
In other news
Oslo-listed Odfjell has secured four chemical tankers from Navig8 Chemical tankers join to its dedicated pool.
China State Shipbuilding Corp and Lloyd’s Register have agreed to form a new co-operation to develop clean and smart marine solutions.
Privinvest, an Abu Dhabi-based shipbuilder, has welcomed the decision of a New York federal court to reject “baseless and misguided allegations” made by the US government in connection with maritime projects in Mozambique.
Recognising that, with the exception of LNG, international regulations for other fuels are absent, classification society DNV GL has developed new class rules and a class notation known as ‘Gas fuelled LPG’ for using liquefied petroleum gas as a fuel in anticipation of growing industry interest.
Diana Shipping has said it will continue to dispose of older tonnage and bolster its balance sheet, despite being “reasonably optimistic” about the medium-term earnings of large bulkers.