A Brave New World
As the breakbulk and project cargo shipping market emerges from two years of pandemic-driven economic swings and historic supply chain disruption, one question is top of mind for stakeholders: Where do we go from here? The industry faces a brave new world, one in which supply chains and long-held assumptions must be revisited and perhaps reconfigured.
Relationships are the lifeblood of project and breakbulk logistics. Where do these relationships stand following the pandemic “spillover” market and its knock-on effects? Scarce tonnage and escalating freight rates and detention charges have left many shippers reeling. Are they confident that project and breakbulk logistics providers can and will deliver what they need as the pandemic market unwinds and new challenges come to light? COVID-19 and a changing geopolitical landscape have taught us that trade lanes, logistics services, sourcing, costs, and supply and demand can change suddenly from one day to the next.
Two-plus years of extraordinary adaptation, disruption, frustration, and opportunity — depending on one’s point of view — are behind us. Now, driven by policies that increasingly see energy and economic security, including supply chain security, as part of national policy, the global economy is undergoing structural changes that reach beyond typical economic cycles. The world will not be returning to a pre-pandemic baseline.
Looking forward, project cargo executives and logisticians appear confident that energy and renewables-related demand, the lifeblood of project cargo, will continue to strengthen, even as the supply of specialized tonnage remains essentially static. What are the implications for shippers, service providers, and the fleet? And will a global recession undermine this positive outlook?
The JOC Breakbulk and Project Cargo Conference, to be held on April 19-21, 2023, in New Orleans, will explore these big-picture issues while drilling down into more granular topics including:
- Risk mitigation for project and breakbulk shippers
- Outlooks for the project cargo and renewables pipelines
- How do shippers and service providers strengthen relationships
- Increasing transparency in project supply chains
- How the MPV/HL sector is planning to meet demand in the face of a tight tonnage supply and increasingly stringent IMO regulations
- The lack of a “silver bullet” answer to the question of green/greener fuels
- Barge, rail, and heavy-haul transport
Shipping ebbs and flows with supply and demand. That will never change. Strained relationships can be repaired. Memories may be long, but pragmatism and straightforward problem-solving will benefit those willing to remain open-minded as we wade into this brave new world.
There’s so much to discuss. We can't wait to see you in New Orleans.