Maersk Expects Healthier 2017 for Shippers
By Aiswarya Lakshmi
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Bloomberg quoted Robbert van Trooijen, APAC CEO of Maersk Line, saying that the current year (2017) will be more profitable than the last.
Post-Hanjin, ocean freight customers now stressing stability and avoiding risk to supply chains, not just rates, he said.
"The bankruptcy of South Korea's Hanjin Shipping and a consolidation in the container shipping industry will pave the way for a better year for the industry," he told the international news wire.
Maersk Line is seeing a more balanced supply-demand situation this year in its talks with customers after years of overcapacity and excessive optimism about demand.
Maersk Line expects to be profitable this year after a US$384 million (S$546 million) loss it booked last year. It also expects the global container market to grow 2 per cent to 4 per cent amid the consolidation wave.