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Spotlight: CHINA
CHINA CRISIS Although Chinese ports may have been affected in recent time by closures due to covid restrictions, the country continues to dominate the maritime sector – an issue that has been causing concern to other international players
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SUEZ CANAL
BULK TERMINALS
international | WINTER 2021-22
ovid restrictions, as well as the overall effect of events like the grounding of the Ever Given in the Suez Canal have given people outside the industry a better idea of the importance of global shipping to the world economy. Commentators have been focusing not only on how choke points can affect the smooth flow of trade on a global basis, but also how Chinese investment in shipping is liable to play out in the future. The country has not only been investing heavily in port facilities, but is also a leading manufacturer of equipment, including ship-to-shore cranes and containers, alongside being a key player in shipbuilding. China is reported to have received nearly 50% of shipbuilding orders in 2020, a major move in recent years when Japan and South Korea were two of the most dominant players. China’s expansion outwards has been given a major push in recent years with the Belt and Road Initiative, which is designed to increase the country’s connectivity with other countries and multiple continents. It has been described as the “New Silk Road”, which in its day had a major role to play in
