InterManager Daily News 17.04.2023.

1. China-Russia vs. US-EU – How global shipping is slowly splitting in two. Last summer’s meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and Nancy Pelosi prompted Chinese live-fire exercises. Wednesday’s meeting with Speaker Kevin McCarthy prompted another large-scale Chinese military exercise in the Taiwan Strait, with the situation becoming increasingly tense by Sunday. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/04/13/china-russia-vs-us-eu-how-global-shipping-is-slowly-splitting-in-two/
2. Japan’s MUFG sets emissions targets for shipping, together with real estate and steel industries. Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group on Tuesday laid out emissions-cutting targets for lending to the real estate, steel and shipping sectors, and said emissions from its oil and gas business had fallen as loans were repaid. As Japan’s top lender and a significant funder of carbon-intensive industries, MUFG is increasingly in activists’ crosshairs and is set to face a shareholder vote on its climate efforts at an upcoming annual meeting. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/04/13/japans-mufg-sets-emissions-targets-for-shipping-together-with-real-estate-and-steel-industries/
3. Chinese ports see fewer empty containers as exports on recovery trend despite global inflation. Major ports across China have reported a drop of empty containers, which industry insiders said is a sign of an export recovery as Chinese products gain a resilient and strong foothold in the world market despite lingering global inflation. The container situation refutes foreign media speculation over weak Chinese foreign trade, experts said, predicting China’s exports will grow further in 2023 as the country opens wider to the world. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/04/13/chinese-ports-see-fewer-empty-containers-as-exports-on-recovery-trend-despite-global-inflation/
4. Why the US ‘freight recession’ is impacting the trans-Pacific container trade far more than the trans-Atlantic. The post-Covid US trade slowdown is impacting household goods demand far more seriously than industrial freight demand, according to analysts appearing on the latest episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club podcast, produced with the support of the Dimerco Express Group.This explains why since the second half of 2022, the trans-Pacific container trade has seen freight rates and demand drop far more significantly than the trans-Atlantic, and why domestic trucking and air cargo markets have turned bearish. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/04/13/why-the-us-freight-recession-is-impacting-the-trans-pacific-container-trade-far-more-than-the-trans-atlantic/
5. MOL pushes ahead with ammonia-fuelled gas carrier. The post-Covid US trade slowdown is impacting household goods demand far more seriously than industrial freight demand, according to analysts appearing on the latest episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club podcast, produced with the support of the Dimerco Express Group. This explains why since the second half of 2022, the trans-Pacific container trade has seen freight rates and demand drop far more significantly than the trans-Atlantic, and why domestic trucking and air cargo markets have turned bearish. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/04/13/why-the-us-freight-recession-is-impacting-the-trans-pacific-container-trade-far-more-than-the-trans-atlantic/
6. CMA CGM steps up startup scene commitment. France’s CMA CGM has strengthened its commitment to the startup incubator Zebox, initiated by its chairman Rodolphe Saade and partners in 2018. The Marseille-based shipping giant has announced the launch of Zebox Ventures, a seed fund that aims to invest in around 50 startups every year. https://splash247.com/cma-cgm-steps-up-startup-scene-commitment/
7. Maersk’s First Green Methanol-Powered Containership Launched. Danish shipping giant Maersk is celebrating the launch of the world’s first green methanol-powered containership.The vessel, a 2,100 TEU capacity feeder ship, is the first of nineteen carbon neutral ships Maersk has on order that will be powered by green methanol fuel.The 172-meter-long vessel was ordered in July 2021from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea with delivery planned for later this year. The vessel will be operated by Maersk’s Sealand Europe brand, a subsidiary that Maersk is in the process of integrating into the “Maersk” moniker, on the Baltic shipping route between Northern Europe and the Bay of Bothnia. https://gcaptain.com/maersks-first-green-methanol-powered-containership-launched/
8. World’s Largest FSRU Arrives in Hong Kong. The world’s largest floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) has arrived in Hong Kong where it is set help meet the city’s growing energy needs.The Bauhinia Spirit, with a length of 345 meters and a storage capacity of 263,000m3 of LNG, arrived at the South Cheung Chau Anchorage on Thursday. The FSRU is set to undergo checks and port clearance procedures before sailing to the offshore LNG terminal east of the Soko Islands next week for the final commissioning of the project. https://gcaptain.com/worlds-largest-fsru-arrives-in-hong-kong/
9. Baltic index steady as capesize bounce offsets dip in smaller vessels. The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, was flat on Thursday as higher rates for capesizes countered a dip in smaller vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, remained unchanged at 1,463. The capesize index gained 66 points, or 3.6%, at 1,888 — its biggest rise in a week. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+index+steady+as+capesize+bounce+offsets+dip+in+smaller+vessels
10. IMB records lowest level of Q1 piracy since 1993 in 2023 report. London and Kuala Lumpur 13 April 2023: The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) calls for continued, robust and coordinated regional and international naval presence to act as a deterrent to prevent and respond to piracy.The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has recorded the lowest level of reported global piracy and armed robbery incidents since 1993 but calls for continued vigilance and naval response in its first quarter piracy and armed robbery report for 2023. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/IMB+records+lowest+level+of+Q1+piracy+since+1993+in+2023+report