Shipping is feeling more confident about the markets in which it operates and more optimistic about making major investments, according to a new survey, with a number of respondents noting the importance of Chinese and Indian demand in driving the markets forward.

Fewer shipowners, managers, charterers and brokers expect finance costs to rise over the next year, the survey from UK consultancy Moore Stephens showed. However, the survey showed that there is still uncertainty about Europe’s financial woes and concerns that over-tonnaging will increase in the tanker, drybulk and container shipping trades.

It also found that charterers predict that rates in the tanker and drybulk trades are likely to fall in the coming year.

Fairplay Daily News