There has been a notable decline in voyages numbers ex China to the USA and European Union, although data from the Esgian Shipping Suite for MPP shows that vessels are more heavily laden.
According to the report detailing trends in the multipurpose and heavy lift shipping sector, the number of voyages performed by its top-five multipurpose operators from China to the USA declined in the first and second quarters of 2024, when compared to the equivalent periods of 2023. In Q1 2024, Esgian said those operators completed 15 voyages from China to the USA, down from 29 in same period of 2023. Likewise, trips from China to the EU declined from 19 to 7.
In both instances, voyages increased in Q2 2024 but remain below the same period in 2023. However, Esgian reports that vessel draughts for sailings in Q2 2024 increased significantly, indicating that voyages are more heavily laden.
The decline in voyage numbers ex-China could be a result of port disruption and congestion. However, increased vessel utilisation indicates that efficiency gains are an increasingly important consideration for operators, particularly with the introduction of the EU ETS at the start of 2024.
DNV also recently issued its 8th edition of the Maritime Forecast to 2050 report, outlining how the maritime industry needs to prioritise energy efficiency until the cost and supply of carbon-neutral fuels become more feasible.
