The Container Shipping Industry Gathers to Forecast for 2018

After a period of significant change, the container shipping industry is now moving towards a state of stability and growth. Although there are still some key challenges to be faced in the coming months, the industry is showing good signs of revival after new deals and sector alliances have shaken up the market.
Taking place in November, at an ideal time to review the year and to look forward to 2018, Intermodal Europe 2017 will bring together the container shipping and intermodal industry in Amsterdam from the 28-30 November. Showcasing 140+ global companies in the exhibition, hosting over 75 expert speakers in the conference and drawing in an audience of over 6,000 senior-level industry professionals, Intermodal Europe will provide a platform to do business, form new partnerships and gain the latest market insight.
This year’s Intermodal Europe conference programme will focus on the ongoing transformation of the industry to forward plan with a sense of optimism; key topics include new opportunities for financing in the sector, the development of inland markets across Europe, One Belt One Road and the increased trade via this route, smart shipping, new technologies and a forum dedicated to the Freight Forwarders and Shippers’ Perspective.
Keynote speaker Mike Garratt, Managing Director at MDS Transmodal will open the conference with his session ‘Forecasting the outlook for container shipping in Europe’, followed by Tim Power, Managing Director at Drewry, discussing the ‘Global outlook for container shipping’. Both are designed to give attendees a broad understanding of the current global market and what can be expected over the next 12 months.
A key forum on Day One, “New Opportunities for Finance in the Container and Intermodal Sector” will feature high-level speakers including Renzo Hoefnagels, Executive Director, Global Head of Intermodal Finance at ABN AMRO, Michiel Steeman, Managing Director, Shipping Finance Europe, DVB Bank SE, Andrew Baird, Partner at Watson Farley & Williams and a representative from FPG AIM. This panel-led forum will cover the availability of bank debt for intermodal transactions, bond markets and discuss other financial structures available.
Day two includes a focused forum looking at the future outlook of the industry, discussing emerging winners, the next big thing, hidden growth and de-globalising markets. Speakers confirmed include; Dean Davison, General Manager, Innovation Group at Inchcape Shipping Services, giving an overview on the ‘Developments of automation in difference regions’, and Roy van Eljsden, Director – Maritime & Logistics at WSP Global, covering import and export to and from the UK, regional trade patterns and the reshuffling within the market, with his presentation ‘Brexit: The potential effects on trade flows’.
“Brexit is going to happen, so it seems” explains Van Eljsden. “Our aim for the session is to give attendees insight into different scenarios reflecting possible political/economic outcomes. The market players that prepare well and develop agile strategies will be amongst the winners.”
The conference programme will also incorporate other current topics including; the Cold Chain Forum, New opportunities in the Container Optimisation Market, Competition in Europe’s Multi-modal Transport Corridors, One Belt One Road: experiences so far and outlook for the future, Container Weighing, Smart Shipping Forum: The Internet of Things and Big Data in Tracking, and the Amsterdam Logistics Forum.
“The high-level conference programme will bring together market experts to discuss the current and future business challenges and opportunities within the industry” explains Sophie Ahmed, Event Director. “The content is designed to generate insightful debate and provide attendees with knowledge that can be applied to future business strategies.”