日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Jun 09, 2025 (Mon)

‌【Current of Japanese shipowners】Dark Clouds Over Dry Bulk Market; Operators Driven to Renegotiate Contracts

　“The bulker charter market has been in a dull state for a long time. Inevitably, this has led to a ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+bulker+charter+market+has+been+in+a+dull+state+for+a+long+time.+Inevitably%2C+this+has+led+to+a+fishy+atmosphere+among+some+overseas+operators+%28operating+shipping+companies%29.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80A+rainy+afternoon+in+Tokyo+mid-last+week.+A+shipping+broker+began+speaking+as+he+leaned+back+in+his+chair+in+a+coffee+shop.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Financial+difficulties+are+getting+tougher+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+veteran+broker+continues.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIt+seems+that+several+players+among+the+emerging+overseas+operators+with+low+creditworthiness+are+beginning+to+struggle.%E2%80%9C+%28Tokyo-based+broker%29+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80What+does+that+mean%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+dry+bulk+market%2C+which+remained+firm+last+year%2C+has+not+experienced+a+major+collapse+this+year%2C+but+the+softening+trend+continues.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80On+the+other+hand%2C+although+the+market+underwent+an+adjustment+from+autumn+last+year+onwards%2C+it+generally+performed+well%2C+supported+by+limited+supply+pressure+for+new+ships+and+an+increase+in+ton+miles+%28weight+distance+transported%29+due+to+the+worsening+situation+in+the+Red+Sea.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80During+the+booming+economic+period+from+two+years+ago+onwards%2C+some+overseas+operators+with+insufficient+creditworthiness+had+decided+to+charter+ships+for+long+periods+at+rates+higher+than+market+rates%2C+but+since+the+market+softened+last+fall%2C+they+have+been+in+a+state+of+loss+margin+%28operating+at+a+loss%29+and+their+finances+have+been+rapidly+deteriorating.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80According+to+statistics+from+Clarksons+Research+in+the+UK%2C+current+TC+%28time+charter%29+rates+%28for+a+five-year+period%29+for+small+bulkers+are+%2414%2C000+for+Ultramaxes+and+%2412%2C750+for+Handysizes.+Meanwhile%2C+last+year%E2%80%99s+average+rates+were+%2414%2C894+for+Ultramax+and+%2413%2C663+for+Handysize%2C+both+almost+%241%2C000+higher+than+they+are+now.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80A+trading+company+official+takes+over.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIndeed%2C+in+the+autumn+of+last+year%2C+when+the+dry+bulk+market+was+on+the+rise%2C+the+charter+rates+for+new+bulkers+procured+by+some+overseas+operators+on+long-term+charters+from+Japanese+ship+owners+were+quite+high%2C%E2%80%9C+said+a+trading+company+shipping+department.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80For+Handysizes+due+for+delivery+in+2024%2C+which+was+near-term+at+the+time%2C+there+was+reportedly+a+case+where+the+five-year+TC+rate+had+been+set+at+%2414%2C000.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80In+contrast%2C+current+spot+charter+rates+are+just+under+%2412%2C000+for+Handymax+and+just+under+%2411%2C000+for+Handysize.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80For+example%2C+in+the+case+of+a+Handysize+vessel+that+was+chartered+for+a+long+term+of+five+years+at+a+daily+charter+rate+of+%2414%2C000+last+year%2C+this+means+that+the+operator+is+incurring+a+loss+margin+of+about+%243%2C000+every+day%2C+which+is+the+difference+with+the+current+market+rate.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+shipping+broker+points+out+with+a+grim+look+on+his+face.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThere+are+reports+that+some+operators+have+already+begun+considering+requesting+reductions+in+long-term+charter+fees+from+Japanese+shipowners.+It+is+certain+that+the+financial+situation+of+several+overseas+operators+who+had+decided+to+charter+ships+for+long+periods+at+high+rates+is+becoming+increasingly+tight.%E2%80%9C+%28Tokyo-based+broker%29+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+US+policy+leaves+the+outlook+unclear+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+softening+dry+bulk+market+is+putting+downward+pressure+on+long-term+charter+rates+for+newly+built+bulkers.+Naturally%2C+this+will+have+a+major+impact+on+Japanese+ship+owners+as+well.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+gap+between+high+new+shipbuilding+prices+and+long-term+charter+rates+has+been+particularly+widening+in+recent+years.+Among+Japanese+shipowners%2C+the+number+of+players+taking+on+%E2%80%9Ccharter-free+orders%2C%E2%80%9C+ordering+general-purpose+small+and+medium-sized+bulkers+without+a+TC+contract%2C+has+been+gradually+increasing.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Since+last+year%2C+shipowners+with+such+ships+on+advance+order+have+been+waiting+for+an+upswing+in+market+conditions+to+make+it+easier+to+charter+ships+on+favorable+terms.+However%2C+as+the+market+tide+has+shifted+since+the+beginning+of+this+year%2C+it+appears+that+some+estimates+are+beginning+to+go+awry.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Another+shipping+broker+spoke+in+a+hushed+voice+on+the+phone+last+week.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CA+Setouchi+shipowner+had+already+placed+an+order+for+an+Ultramax+vessel+due+for+delivery+this+year%2C+and+the+five-year+TC+with+an+overseas+operator+had+been+almost+finalized+last+year+at+a+high+fixed+rate.+However%2C+this+year%2C+the+market+weakened%2C+and+the+operation+was+renegotiated+at+the+request+of+the+operator%2C+and+the+terms+were+revised+to+be+more+favorable+for+the+operator.%E2%80%9C+%28Another+Tokyo-based+broker%29+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+dry+bulk+market%2C+which+had+been+sluggish+due+to+the+coronavirus+pandemic%2C+rebounded+sharply+in+2021+and+continued+its+upward+trend+into+the+first+half+of+2022.+The+market+has+generally+remained+resilient+the+year+before+last+and+last+year%E3%80%80as+well%2C+demonstrating+the+strength+of+its+fundamentals.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+softening+this+year+is+thought+to+be+due+in+part+to+increased+uncertainty+in+the+global+economy+caused+by+a+series+of+policies+implemented+by+the+Trump+administration%2C+including+tariffs+and+plans+to+impose+port+entry+fees+on+Chinese-built+ships.+If+this+is+the+case%2C+it+will+likely+take+some+time+for+the+outlook+for+the+ship+charter+market%2C+which+is+currently+uncertain%2C+to+clear+up.+%3Cbr%3E%28Japanese+ship+owners+coverage+team%29+%3Cbr%3E%3D+Posted+every+other+Monday+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%AE%E7%9A%84%E3%81%B8%E3%81%AE%E9%81%A9%E5%90%88%E6%80%A7%E3%82%92%E5%90%AB%E3%82%81%E3%80%81%E6%98%8E%E7%A4%BA%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E9%BB%99%E7%A4%BA%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82%E3%80%81%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8B%E4%BF%9D%E8%A8%BC%E3%82%82%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%9B%E3%82%93%E3%80%82%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%8C%E3%80%81%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%A4%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E3%82%92%E8%AA%8D%E8%AD%98%E3%83%BB%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%82%92%E5%87%BA%E5%8A%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%E3%81%93%E3%81%A8%E3%82%92%E5%8D%81%E5%88%86%E3%81%AB%E7%90%86%E8%A7%A3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE%E3%81%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%99%E3%80%82%3Cbr%3E

【国内船主の今】(395)高レート用船者に暗雲。ドライ市況変調、逆ザヤ再交渉も

2025/06/09(月)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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