Multipurpose carrier G2 Ocean said that it has experienced ‘pandemic-defying’ results on its African and Indian semi-liner services.
Prashant Samel, senior chartering manager and business development manager for Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East at G2 Ocean, said that the carrier plans to launch more sailings and services over the next 12 months.
The plans include expanded links from India to Southeast Asia and Japan, and a potential additional service from the USA to Brazil/South America.
Samel said that G2 Ocean expects increased activity from India to Southeast Asia, despite the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) projected 10.3 percent contraction in India’s economic growth for 2020.
In addition, G2 Ocean has seen volumes to and from Africa more than double compared to 2019, and the number of port calls has almost tripled. This comes during a time in which Africa is experiencing its first recession in 25 years, according to the World Bank – with a projected 3.3 percent decline in economic activity for 2020.
G2 Ocean’s main operations in this region are between Tanzania, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, and Mozambique.
Samel said that volumes on G2 Ocean’s recently added India-USA East Coast/Gulf semi-liner service reached 500,000 freight tons in 11 sailings since February. The service operates one ship per month and calls at Oman, the UAE and west coast ports of India, before a Suez transit to North America.
Simon Baker, chartering director for Africa, India and the Middle East at G2 Ocean, said that the Covid-19 pandemic has made it difficult to predict demand for its services.
He added that the pandemic “has also reduced vessel utilisation as production and manufacturing in certain areas was closed or operating as reduced capacity. Consequently, some planned cargo shipments have been cancelled or delayed.”
