News / Tough going for carriers forced to keep trying to match supply with falling demand

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Indications are that ocean carrier financials for the first quarter will be satisfactory, due to prudent capacity management around the extended Chinese New Year shutdowns.

However, all bets are off as to how successful carriers will be navigating the current and following quarters.

Strong operational results published by OOCL this week, followed by similarly robust numbers from its parent, Cosco Shipping, should be a precursor for a reasonably good first-quarter performance from the liner industry.

Sea-Intelligence Consulting chief executive Lars Jensen noted a ...