Executive Commentary |
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of customers as such. Growth can be facilitated if there is a sincere interest in offering anticipatory service, in caring about customers’ needs and in honing their competitive economics.
Toepfer Transport
Yorck Niclas Prehm
Head of Research www. toepfer-transport. com
In 2025, the multipurpose and breakbulk shipping market was characterized by minimal volatility and a stable and steady behavior of freight and charter rates. It would be easy to call this a rather boring development but given the many economic and( geo) political challenges for the shipping industry and global supply chains, this stability underscores how extraordinarily strong and resilient this niche market is. The foundation of this stability, which was not anticipated, is that the owners and operators in the sector approached the due modernization of the fleet with care and consideration. The orderbook for new multipurpose vessels, and thus the amount of additional tonnage entering the market over the next few years, is relatively moderate( especially compared with the container sector). This creates both challenges and opportunities. Should the Red Sea routes reopen and tonnage miles on one of the major trade routes decline, the segment will be well positioned to meet the resulting challenges.
The outlook for 2026 is optimistic. The fleet will be well utilized, with many high-capacity projects postponed in 2025 due to the various economic uncertainties entering the market in 2026, and some forward bookings and contracts already locked in by carriers. For operators with highly specialized vessels, e. g. super-heavy-lift vessels or vessels with offshore installation capabilities, the situation is even more comfortable: Their fleet is already( almost) fully booked for 2026, and they are focusing on bookings for 2027 and 2028. I am very happy to continue to monitor and analyze the market in
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“ The path to stability lies in pragmatic coordination, not universal data utopias.”
Marco Poisler
“ Integrity, decisiveness and a steadfast commitment to ethical leadership remain defining qualities of the most soughtafter executives in our industry.”
Susan Shey Dvonch
“ Given the many economic and( geo) political challenges for the shipping industry and global supply chains, this stability underscores how extraordinarily strong and resilient this niche market is.”
Yorck Niclas Prehm
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2026, and I firmly believe that we have a bright and exciting year ahead of us!
UTC Overseas Inc.
Marco Poisler
Chief Operating Officer www. utcoverseas. com
The US container shipping sector is entering a sharperthan-expected slowdown. Weakerthan-forecast demand,
Shey-Harding Executive Search
Susan Shey Dvonch
Managing Partner www. shey-harding. com
As of this time last year, US unemployment rates were comfortably low, and the job market strongly favored candidates. How quickly things have changed.
The current economic downturn has prompted many major US employers to reduce their workforces, raising concerns about the overall job market and driving a shift toward more limited and selective hiring. Within the domestic port and terminal industry, only the most critical positions are being filled— and competition for those roles is intense.
In the last quarter of 2025, one client made the unusual decision to cancel an active search due to concerning financial forecasts. That may well prove to be an emerging trend. Understandably, candidates are cautious about making career transitions in such an environment, recognizing that fluctuations in the industry— or the broader economy— could affect both their new role and the stability of a wage-earning partner.
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occasioned primarily by new tariffs and compounded by global political uncertainty, has triggered rate volatility. This downturn differs from previous cycles in both speed and opacity. Vessel overcapacity has not yet fully impacted rate trends but will if and when routings through the Suez recommence. New port fees on Chinese-built ships calling at US ports— and the potential fallout from those measures— add to the unpredictable nature of carrier decision-making.
Carriers are responding by reconfiguring tonnage into US trades, using blank sailings to mitigate predictable troughs, and in some cases withdrawing services or scrapping
On the opportunity side, a growing emphasis on succession planning, particularly in the public sector, has allowed organizations to leverage internal talent for key leadership positions while recruiting externally to backfill those roles. Highly technical professionals, including engineers and maintenance professionals at all levels, continue to be in strong demand.
Our port partners are seeking top executives with a broader range of skills than ever before: financial acumen, economic development expertise, experience with publicprivate partnerships, and strong relationships with state and federal political stakeholders. These leaders must possess strategic vision and deep insight into market trends and emerging technologies to guide critical investments.
Equally important, they must be proven, charismatic leaders with strong reputations who can navigate the complexities of today’ s challenging environment. Integrity, decisiveness and a steadfast commitment to ethical leadership remain defining qualities of the most sought-after executives in our industry.
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