News / Cheaper bunker prices could hinder as well as help container lines, says BIMCO

©Gavin van Marle

Lower bunker costs are “very welcome in an industry struggling to make a profit”, says shipping industry association BIMCO in its latest container market analysis, but added that the potential impact of much cheaper fuel in ratcheting up service speeds of ships “may not be such a blessing”.

BIMCO’s concern is that faster sailing speeds effectively results in more capacity being offered to shippers, something the industry has no need for.

BIMCO said that slow-steaming was originally conceived not only to trim ...