Tag: oversupply

Charter rates remain low for both dry bulk and container shippers Danish shipping giant A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S (OTC: AMKBF) posted profit of $1.22 billion for the first quarter on revenue of about $15.2 billion, both significantly better than the same period a year ago.But the company's outlook for the rest of the year is not so bright, and neither is the outlook for other shippers.DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS) is scheduled to report results tomorrow, and analysts are expecting EPS of $0.16 on revenue of $234 million. For the June quarter, expectations rise to EPS of $0.22 on revenue of nearly $279 million. Many other shippers have already reported quarterly results, including Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd. (NYSE: GNK), Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX), Eagle Bulk Shipping, Inc. (NASDAQ: EGLE), and Excel Maritime Carriers, Ltd. (NYSE: EXM).Charter rates remain low for both dry bulk and container shippers. The Baltic Dry Index, a measure of dry bulk shipping rates, currently sits at $1,344, about double its low of around $663, but still well below year-ago rates of nearly $4,000. Container shipping rates are rising somewhat, but by less than the industry would hope.From Shanghai to the Europe, the cost of shipping a ...