This week’s Market Monitor focuses on Australian dry bulk port congestion, following last week’s news of debris disrupting operations at Newcastle, the country’s largest thermal coal port. Newcastle’s loading port efficiency appears to be under serious turbulence due to severe rainfall leading to flooding across the Hunter River tributaries, a key region for coal mining. This has already signalled a significant impact on key congestion metrics, with an increase in port days in waiting status.
As of May 27th, congestion levels reflect the impact of extreme weather conditions, with vessel queues at Newcastle peaking at more than 40 ships waiting to load thermal coal. In addition, waiting days have surged to 11 from just 3 a month ago. Currently, congestion has spiked to levels not seen since the start of 2022.
Congestion metrics from Signal Ocean Data Port Insights record a 41% weekly increase in the number of Panamax and Post-Panamax dry bulk vessels, and a 73% monthly increase. In terms of port days metrics, there is a 69% weekly increase, while on a monthly basis, the figure has spiked, showing a 419% change.
The coming days will reveal whether this upward trend in congested volumes will persist or ease as weather conditions normalize. The recent situation underscores how severe weather can disrupt port efficiency and the importance of port infrastructure to prevent operational disruptions in the event of a natural disaster.
There remains cautious uncertainty about the immediate recovery of the increased congestion metrics. When it comes to the volume of Australian thermal coal exports, the first quarter Signal Ocean Cargo Flows Trend Analysis indicated a 12% decrease compared to the activity seen during the first quarter of the previous year, while on a monthly level, year-to-date data shows a 26% decrease. Thus, the scenario of a sustained spike in waiting port days for loading thermal coal at Newcastle seems unlikely to be maintained once the operational issues are resolved, as the monthly volume of thermal coal exports from Australia has not yet significantly increased to justify such a sharp rise in port delays. This suggests we may soon see an easing trend in Australian dry bulk port congestion.
In the scenario of a delayed resolution, the debris issue could lead to further operational inefficiencies and support an increase in loading congestion metrics at other alternative Australian ports. In the case of Australian Port Walcott, the first signs have already appeared, with a 35% increase in the number of Capesize vessels for iron ore loading and a rise in the number of waiting days to 9, up 160% on a weekly basis. Meanwhile, it is worth noting that North Chinese ports, especially Tianjin, also experienced a record spike in congestion for the Supramax vessel segment in mid-April. This was primarily due to adverse weather, particularly fog, which increased port waiting times. Fortunately, conditions have started to normalize as warmer temperatures return to Tianjin. In the large vessel size category of the VLOC, a slowdown in the number of vessels congested at Ponta da Madeira is observed at levels lower than those recorded in 2022, 2023, and 2024. For Capesize vessels, the congestion trend also indicates significantly lower volumes compared to the peak seen in March 2024, with a recent 3% monthly increase.
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Creating a sustainable world requires us to embark on a journey towards a zero emission future, where every step is a commitment to preserve our planet for future generations.
Albert Greenway
Environmental Scientist, Sustainability Expert
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Increased Use of Renewable Energy:
Shipping companies are embracing renewable energy sources to power onboard systems and reduce emissions during port operations. Solar panels and wind turbines are being installed on vessels to generate clean energy, reducing reliance on auxiliary engines, and cutting down emissions. Shore power facilities in ports allow ships to connect to the electrical grid, eliminating the need for onboard generators while docked.
Collaboration and Industry Partnerships:
Recognizing that addressing emissions requires collective action, shipping companies, governments, and organizations have formed partnerships and collaborations. These initiatives focus on research and development, sharing best practices, and promoting knowledge transfer. Joint projects aim to develop and deploy innovative technologies, improve infrastructure, and create a supportive regulatory framework to accelerate the industry's transition towards a greener future. The Zero Emission Shipping - Mission Innovation.
To pave the way for a greener future in shipping, the availability of alternative fuels plays a vital role in their widespread adoption. However, this availability is influenced by factors such as port infrastructure, local regulations, and government policies. As the demand for cleaner fuels in shipping rises and environmental regulations become more stringent, efforts are underway to improve the accessibility of these fuels through infrastructure development, collaborations, and investments in production facilities.
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure has seen significant growth in recent years, resulting in more LNG bunkering facilities and LNG-powered vessels. Nonetheless, the availability of LNG as a marine fuel can still vary depending on the region. To ensure consistent availability worldwide, there is a need for further development of LNG supply chains and infrastructure. For biofuels, their availability hinges on production capacity and the availability of feedstock. Although biofuels are being produced and utilized in various sectors, their availability as a marine fuel remains limited. Scaling up biofuel production and establishing robust supply chains are imperative to ensure wider availability within the shipping industry.Hydrogen, as a fuel for maritime applications, is still in the early stages of infrastructure development. While some hydrogen vessels have been tested or introduced in the first quarter of last year, the infrastructure required for hydrogen production and distribution needs further advancement.
Ammonia, as a marine fuel, currently faces limitations in availability. The production, storage, and handling infrastructure for ammonia need further development to support its widespread use in the shipping industry.Methanol, on the other hand, is already a commercially available fuel and has been used as a blend with conventional fuels in some ships. However, its availability as a standalone marine fuel can still be limited in certain regions. Bureau Veritas in October 2022 published a White Paper for the Alternative Fuels Outlook. This white paper provides a comprehensive overview of alternative fuels for the shipping industry, taking into account key factors such as technological maturity, availability, safety, emissions, and regulations.
Creating a sustainable world requires us to embark on a journey towards a zero emission future, where every step is a commitment to preserve our planet for future generations.
Albert Greenway
Environmental Scientist, Sustainability Expert
Increased Use of Renewable Energy:
Shipping companies are embracing renewable energy sources to power onboard systems and reduce emissions during port operations. Solar panels and wind turbines are being installed on vessels to generate clean energy, reducing reliance on auxiliary engines, and cutting down emissions. Shore power facilities in ports allow ships to connect to the electrical grid, eliminating the need for onboard generators while docked.
Collaboration and Industry Partnerships:
Recognizing that addressing emissions requires collective action, shipping companies, governments, and organizations have formed partnerships and collaborations. These initiatives focus on research and development, sharing best practices, and promoting knowledge transfer. Joint projects aim to develop and deploy innovative technologies, improve infrastructure, and create a supportive regulatory framework to accelerate the industry's transition towards a greener future. The Zero Emission Shipping - Mission Innovation.
To pave the way for a greener future in shipping, the availability of alternative fuels plays a vital role in their widespread adoption. However, this availability is influenced by factors such as port infrastructure, local regulations, and government policies. As the demand for cleaner fuels in shipping rises and environmental regulations become more stringent, efforts are underway to improve the accessibility of these fuels through infrastructure development, collaborations, and investments in production facilities.
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure has seen significant growth in recent years, resulting in more LNG bunkering facilities and LNG-powered vessels. Nonetheless, the availability of LNG as a marine fuel can still vary depending on the region. To ensure consistent availability worldwide, there is a need for further development of LNG supply chains and infrastructure. For biofuels, their availability hinges on production capacity and the availability of feedstock. Although biofuels are being produced and utilized in various sectors, their availability as a marine fuel remains limited. Scaling up biofuel production and establishing robust supply chains are imperative to ensure wider availability within the shipping industry.Hydrogen, as a fuel for maritime applications, is still in the early stages of infrastructure development. While some hydrogen vessels have been tested or introduced in the first quarter of last year, the infrastructure required for hydrogen production and distribution needs further advancement.
Ammonia, as a marine fuel, currently faces limitations in availability. The production, storage, and handling infrastructure for ammonia need further development to support its widespread use in the shipping industry.Methanol, on the other hand, is already a commercially available fuel and has been used as a blend with conventional fuels in some ships. However, its availability as a standalone marine fuel can still be limited in certain regions. Bureau Veritas in October 2022 published a White Paper for the Alternative Fuels Outlook. This white paper provides a comprehensive overview of alternative fuels for the shipping industry, taking into account key factors such as technological maturity, availability, safety, emissions, and regulations.
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