Trade war uncertainty reveals cracks

As discussed in the October issue of ICR, better-than-expected dry bulk rates have dampened the scrapping trend as owners cash in on more buoyant times. According to some observers, however, growing uncertainty surrounding the trade war between the USA and China is starting to reveal cracks with rates beginning to weaken. The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) slumped from 1774 points on 24 July to 1356 on 18 September, its lowest point since June this year.

Baltic Dry Index - three months to 28 September 2018