European container ports are unlikely to be able to maintain the strong growth rates of the past three decades, Fitch Ratings says. Combined with the trend for ever-larger ships making fewer unloading stops, this makes risks highest for small- and medium-sized ports. These could be drawn into a price war in times of falling volumes, or could miss out on cargo even if they invest to accommodate larger ships. These risks are already factored in to our ratings in the sector. Since 1985 European … [Read more...] about EU port volumes set to slip
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Reefer capacity expected to increase 22% by 2019
Reefer capacity on the containership fleet is expected to increase by 22 per cent over the next five years, at the expense of a declining specialised 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 utilisation levels thanks to strong … [Read more...] about Reefer capacity expected to increase 22% by 2019
