Maersk’sTriple-E class vessel underway. Photo credit: Maersk Line
By Christian Wienberg and Jonathan Ferro
(Bloomberg) — Container volumes have picked up this year after the market suffered from sluggish growth and overcapacity in 2015, according to the chief executive officer of A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S.
“At the beginning of this year, things look a little bit better,” Nils Smedegaard Andersen said in an interview. “We do expect the Asia to Europe business to develop better this year.”
Maersk’s container line, the world’s largest, suffered last year from a toxic cocktail of too many vessels just as global trade sagged. While the industry still needs to address overcapacity, the demand side looks better, Andersen said.
“We find it difficult to believe that the European trade will continue to be negative in 2016,” the CEO said, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “A competitive euro and very low energy prices are good for the European economy so Europe should start to pick up consumption-wise this year.”
Maersk also has the ability to withstand continued low oil prices, and “would have no problems” if crude remains below $30 a barrel for the rest of the year, Andersen said. “We are really well positioned for the future. We have a very strong balance sheet.”
Maersk shares pared losses of as much as 3.8 percent, declining 1.7 percent to 7,715 kroner as of 11:05 a.m. in Copenhagen.
“Fundamentally, there are a lot of good things going on in the global economy,” Andersen said.
©2016 Bloomberg News
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 105,921 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
ROME (Reuters) – An Italian judge on Friday cleared three migrant sea rescue charities that had been accused of abetting irregular immigration in complicity with human traffickers, throwing out a case opened...
(Bloomberg) — The closure of one of the East Coast’s busiest ports after the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge has so far not led to broad price increases,...
(Bloomberg) — An Iranian ship that’s been linked to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea is returning home, removing a prominent asset in the area as the Islamic Republic braces...
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
Sign Up
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 105,921 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
