Up and coming Cambodia to play growing role in
Intra-Asia trade

OVER the course of the past 14 years the nation of Cambodia has experienced solid economic growth, which could spell good news for trade to the Southeast Asian nation.
According to the World Bank the nation experienced an uninterrupted spell of double-digit economic growth between 1998 and 2008. The average of around 10 per cent per annum did take a hit during the financial crisis, but in 2010 and 2011 it managed to bounce back.
The post crisis figure is now around six per cent, which is still remarkably solid considering the general state of the world today. >More

Thai authorities to invest hopes on Laem Chabang port

THAILAND is speedily drafting up a financial master plan that will be used to develop urgently needed infrastructure to support the nation’s key seaport of Laem Chabang.
The move is said to be part of a more far reaching long-term plan to modernise Thailand’s port operations nationwide.
The port has already overtaken Bangkok to become the premier port in the country. But according to information coming out of Thailand, the sky could very well be the limit to the port’s growth going forward…  >More

Cabotage: a formidable barrier to world trade growth, says
World Economic Forum

THE World Economic Forum (WEF) suggests lifting supply chain barriers to boost global trade. Its recent report entitled “Enabling Trade – Valuing Growth Opportunities” indicates that diminishing supply chain barriers “could increase world GDP six times more than merely eliminating tariffs”.
The report identifies four key areas that impact on the freedom of the global supply chain—market access, border administration, transport and communications infrastructure, and business environment.
Additionally, the report estimates that by reducing supply chain barriers global GDP could increase by US$2.6 trillion or 4.7 per cent and exports by $1.6 trillion or 14.5 per cent.     >More

Cheap Malaysian bunker fuel lures carriers away from
Singapore

CHEAP bunker fuel in Malaysia has been blamed for the recent drop in demand for marine fuel in Singapore.
A number of container shipping lines, which are now reported to be spending up to 50 per cent of their vessel operating costs on fuel, have opted to bypass Singapore in favour of its northern neighbour when purchasing bunker fuel.
"We did experience a slight drop in volumes all because prices of the fuel are cheaper in Malaysia", a source close to the Singapore Ship Owners Association (SSA) confirmed to Hong Kong Shipping Gazette in a recent interview...     >More

Global container trade growth for 2013 revised down as
market mood darkens

GLOBAL trade forecasts for 2013 are already being revised down, only a few months into the year with the latest estimates from Clarkson dropping from 6.6 per cent a month ago to 6.1 per cent today.
The maritime consultancy group expects containerised trade to reach 166 million TEU in 2013, which will be the highest ever recorded figure for the industry. But even in this early stage of the year the forecasts for the major trades are coming down significantly.     >More