Economy
October 25, 2014
Transportation Report: Ship, Barge, Rail & Truck
Written by Sandy Williams
MID-SHIP Group reports that the two biggest factors impacting the dry cargo freight market right now are U.S. and South American agricultural products and Chinese imports and exports. Expectations for strong exports of agricultural products are high but not much has hit the export market yet. Iron ore imports into China have slowly started to rise, but export of steel from China has not increased.
Coal shipments are of concern to the dry bulk market due to weak global economy, the slowdown in China and an oversupply of ships. MID–SHIP brokers at the Copenhagen Coal conference earlier this month, reported American coal miners are struggling with mine closures and layoffs. Coal demand is weakening in China due to pollution regulations and import tariffs on coal imports.
