Geneva Dry Dialogues: Precious Shipping – Splash247

Making predictions in shipping is akin to chewing glass says Khalid Hashim, managing director of Thailand’s largest dry bulk owner, Precious Shipping.

“Only the insane would do that,” he says, stressing: “Predictions in shipping are always wrong.”

Nevertheless, when pressed to give his take on where the dry bulk markets will be come the end of April next year when he takes the stage at Geneva Dry, the world’s premier commodities shipping conference, Hashim says a huge amount depends on the type, and amount of stimulus China will put into its economy.

“That will be the major event that could push the dry bulk markets significantly. China is not going to show their hand till such time as they see what barriers Trump enacts against the Chinese economy, and then, and only then, will they enact countermeasures to support their economy,” Hashim says.

On the return of Donald Trump to the White House, Hashim is sanguine – tariffs have not stymied ton-miles thus far, he points out.

“Trade flows under Trump 1.0 and Biden’s continuation and increasing Trump’s 1.0 into Biden 1.0, have increased, not decreased, trade flows into the US,” he points out. “If the past is any predictor of trade flows, then as we have seen all such disruptions tend to have an immediate, but extremely short-term impact, before leading to increased ton-mile and increased trade.”

Hashim will join Emilie Nourry, head of shipping at Eramet, Karim Coumine, manager of chartering for minor bulks at Anglo American, and William Fairclough, the managing director of Wah Kwong Maritime Transport Holdings, on April 28 next year for a new session at Geneva Dry looking at how electric vehicles are supercharging dry bulk.

“EVs will require more power, as more and more people will be making EVs their choice of urban transport. As the total number of EVs increases, the power draw down will keep on increasing world over,” Hashim says, suggesting that coal-fired power plants will remain vital to electricity grids everywhere for many years to come.

With more than 35 sponsors already onboard and more than 100 delegates signed up, Geneva Dry 2025, scheduled for April 28 and 29, is set to welcome back familiar sessions such as iron ore, coal, agri-commodities, minor bulks and dry decarbonisation, as well as featuring some new panels including a 50-minute special on forward freight agreements, a chartering spotlight, while digital efficiency drivers at port and then at sea will form the first two sessions on Day Two.

Companies attending include 2020 Bulkers, Anglo American, BPG Shipping Company, Cargill, Cetus Maritime, CTM, Eastern Mediterranean Maritime, Enesel, Eramet, Fednav, Fortescue, G2 Ocean, Heidelberg Materials Trading, Himalaya Shipping, Mandarin Shipping, Marfin Management, Metbulk Shipping, Norbulk Shipping, Nova Marine Carriers, Precious Shipping, Seanergy Maritime Holdings, Star Bulk, SwissMarine, Taylor Maritime Investments, Trafigura, United Maritime Corporation, Vale, Wah Kwong Maritime Transport Holdings, and Western Bulk.

The full Geneva Dry agenda can be accessed here.Geneva Dry registration, at just $780, can be accessed here.Special Geneva Dry hotel room rates can be found here.