Market Watch

• Geopolitical tensions disrupt global shipping, affecting trade routes, freight rates, and market stability.
• Tankers benefit from longer distances, while bulkers see moderate gains; container rates may decline due to fleet expansion.
• US tariffs, China’s fragile economy, and inflation risks add uncertainty to global trade and shipping demand.
• Shipping companies must adapt by optimizing fleets, adjusting routes, and preparing for regulatory changes.

The global shipping sector faces ongoing...

https://mfame.guru/q2-2025-shipping-market-forecast/

• CCFI falls to 1,112 as spot rates hit record lows.
• SCFI drops 46%, the biggest Q1 fall since 2009.
• Europe and Med rates decline over 30%.

According to BIMCO, Average container freight rates for Chinese exports have fallen 28% since the start of the year, marking the worst first-quarter decline in twenty years, reports Marine Link.

The China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI), derived from 23 liner operators’ data, fell from 1,548 at the beginning of the year to 1,112...

https://mfame.guru/chinas-container-freight-rates-see-historic-drop/

• New Fees on Chinese Shipping Could Disrupt US Ports.
• Tariff Wars Threaten Global Supply Chains.
• US Consumer Sentiment Hits Lowest Point Since 2022.

BIMCO’s latest container shipping market report sets out an increasing sense of uncertainty driven by US trade policy changes. Ship supply will rise 6.2% in 2025 and 3.1% in 2026, although deliveries will be far below the 2024 highs. As ships start returning to normal patterns of trading, demand for ships is predicted to drop 1-2% during the next...

https://mfame.guru/bimco-releases-container-shipping-market-outlook-for-march-2025/

• OFAC sanctions four VLCCs and two Aframaxes for transporting Iranian crude.
• Houthis resume attacks after U.S. airstrikes, targeting American warships.
• Suezmax earnings reach $63,000 per day, the highest level in a year.

The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has targeted further ships involved in carrying Iranian crude: Four VLCCs (19-25 years old) and two Aframaxes (16 and 22 years old). This follows Thursday’s sanctioning of a further 10 tankers, six VLCCs, two Aframaxes, one MR,...

https://mfame.guru/u-s-expands-sanctions-on-iranian-oil-transport/

A new tariff dispute between the U.S. and Canada is causing significant disruptions to global shipping. The sudden imposition of tariffs is forcing vessels, including crude oil tankers and bulk carriers, to alter their planned routes mid-journey. This rerouting is being done to avoid substantial financial losses, and is effectively changing established trade patterns, reports Tradlinx.

On March 4, 2025, the U.S. implemented new tariffs affecting Canadian exports. These included a 25%...

https://mfame.guru/us-canada-tariff-dispute-forces-rerouting-of-vessels-disrupting-global-shipping/

Suezmax freight rates for voyages from Novorossiisk’s Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal to the Mediterranean have reached a year high. Several factors contributed to this increase, reports S&P Global. 

Freight rates on the 135,000 mt CPC-Med route have surged to their highest point since February 19, 2024, reaching $13.72/mt on March 12.

• This increase is attributed to a significant rise in CPC loading volumes, driven by increased production from Kazakhstan’s Tengiz oil...

https://mfame.guru/cpc-expansion-and-increased-volumes-drive-suezmax-rates-to-year-high/

• Oil Tanker Companies Avoid Red Sea Due to Security Risks.
• Yemen Bans Israel-Linked Ships from the Red Sea and Arabian Sea.
• Longer Voyages Keep Freight Rates Steady.

The Red Sea merchant ship insurance premium continues to be high even as security incidents have declined. March 12 market players in Seoul, Tokyo, and Singapore predicted the rates are not going to fall anytime soon, reports S&P Global.

Many key oil tanker companies have not resumed operations...

https://mfame.guru/red-sea-insurance-premiums-remain-firm-despite-fewer-incidents/

In line with President Trump’s vision to “Make America’s Shipbuilding Great Again,” the U.S. shipbuilding industry is poised for a potential resurgence. A drafted executive order outlines strategic measures to enhance the commercial and military shipbuilding sector, including:

• Maritime Security Trust Fund to boost investments.
• Trade restrictions on China to protect U.S. interests.
• Tax incentives and higher wages to attract skilled labor.
• Infrastructure development for modernized shipyard...

https://mfame.guru/global-shipbuilding-market-dynamics-the-race-for-expansion/