Page 57: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (January 2020)

The Final Word

The BDO Survey says ...

Shipping Con? dence Rises “It is not far short of six years since con? dence in the industry has been higher, and appetite for investment remains steady despite volatile economic conditions.” Richard Greiner, Partner,

Shipping & Transport, BDO

Source: BDO hile gauging the views of any internation- al group of business leaders is arduous at best, gauging the views of the notoriously tight-lipped shipping sector is a particular

W challenge. Enter shipping adviser and ac- countant BDO, formerly Moore Stephens

LLP, who’s shipping and transport team has been polling the industry for more than a decade regarding current and future trends.

According to the latest survey, BDO reports that con? dence but up in Europe and in North America from 5.7 to 6.2 and in the shipping industry rose in the last quarter to its high- from 4.3 to 6.8 respectively.

est level for 18 months, with an average con? dence level The likelihood of respondents making a major investment or expressed by respondents to the survey was 6.4 out of 10.0, signi? cant development over the coming year was unchanged compared to 5.8 Q3 2019. While con? dence overall is up, it is from last time at 5.5 out of 10.0.

hard to say there is euphoria across the board. Con? dence in In looking at expectations for freight rates, the positive sen- the broking sector was down from 5.1 to 3.9, the lowest rating timent was unanimous with all three major sectors – tanker, for this category of respondent since the survey was launched bulk and container – anticipating escalating freight rates in in May 2008. Con? dence was down in Asia from 6.8 to 6.0 the coming year.

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