Container Lines Speed Up Their Assault On Reefer Cargo
Container shipping lines are increasing their share of the seaborne reefer market and are forecast to accelerate their assault over the coming years, according to the latest edition of the Reefer Shipping Market Review and Forecast 2017/18 published by global shipping consultancy Drewry.
In 2016, the estimated perishable reefer cargo split was 79 percent in reefer containerships and 21 percent in specialized reefers. By 2021 this modal split is forecast to have changed to nearer 85 percent and 15 percent in reefer containerships and specialized reefers respectively.
One interesting development in 2017 saw specialized reefer operator Seatrade team-up with CMA CGM to provide a 13-vessel reefer container service offering a weekly sailing between Europe and Australasia. It remains to be seen whether this sets a trend for the industry.
The resilience of the industry to adverse economic, commercial and even climatic conditions has been demonstrated once again as seaborne perishable reefer trade increased in 2016 and is forecast to grow further still in 2017. This year, Drewry has incorporated the pharmaceuticals, cut flowers and confectionery sectors into its assessment of the reefer market, adding up to 3.3 million tonnes of seaborne cargo in 2016. By 2021, seaborne reefer cargo will exceed 134 million tons – increasing by an average of 2.8 percent per year, according to Drewry’s report.
Despite future seaborne cargo growth levels being lower than those of the last decade (3.3 percent), such increases will have a significant effect on container lines with reefer capacity. With almost 400 containerships with reefer capacity yet to be delivered, and possibly more still to be confirmed, Drewry looked at the effect this will have not only on overall cargo tons carried, but also on capacity utilization. Based on the confirmed orderbook, despite significant increases in reefer container capacity, reefer utilization will remain broadly stable as a result of the increased seaborne cargo volumes and rising market share for the reefer containership mode.
On the other hand, with a reducing specialized reefer fleet, not only will this mode see its cargo volumes decrease, but also its market share will reduce year-on-year. Nevertheless, it currently provides around five percent of overall reefer capacity yet carries almost 21 percent of total seaborne perishable reefer cargo. Inevitably, although still carrying a disproportionate volume of cargo, both cargo tonnes and market share are set to fall for this mode.
Drewry has continued to analyze the total global TEU of perishable reefer cargoes by commodity. In addition, the report looks at almost 30 key trade lanes and compares reefer TEU volumes for 2016 with those for 2015, as well as calculating the reefer percentage of the overall (reefer and dry) trade.
One area to watch is the potential lack of reefer container equipment. A lack of recent investment has already led to shortages in Europe and Brazil during the second quarter of this year, a situation that is likely to repeat itself. Although carrier consolidation may result in an improvement in container utilization and efficiency, the lack of container equipment orders placed in 2017 is a concern.
“The reefer sector continues to report strong cargo growth which is very encouraging for vessel operators,” said Drewry’s report editor Kevin Harding. “However, the transition from the specialized operators to the reefer containership operators is gaining momentum.”
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