The peak season for containerised exports from Asia to the US is now underway with the COVID-19 pandemic and astoundingly high freight rates making it easy to forget the trade war which has now entered its third year.

BIMCO is launching a webinar series with analysts from the industry sharing their knowledge and views of the future of commercial shipping markets, in a response to recent postponements of on-site shipping conferences and events.

An impressive recovery in Chinese dry bulk imports has protected the industry from the effects of falling demand in the rest of the world.

Despite lower demand because of the pandemic, carriers have achieved high freight rates and profitability in the first half of the year through large-scale capacity reductions and low bunker prices.

A stunningly strong 12 months for the tanker shipping industry is now being replaced by lower freight rates, as lower oil production and demand sets in across the globe.

After the sharp and sudden shock of the pandemic, the economic recovery has begun and it is clear that it will be drawn out and uneven, both geographically and by sector. Though China has returned to growth, most other countries are lagging behind.