SHIPPING

Analysts, business and bank officials described the coronavirus as posing a serious risk to the macroeconomic environment, meaning that Greece is less likely to achieve its target for economic growth of 2.8 percent for this year. Experts point to a 0.1 percent cut to forecast global growth for this year by the IMF, which also reduced its estimate for China's economic expansion by 0.4 percent.

The new year could be surprising enough and would bring about more profound changes for the industry, while the primary pre-occupation in the industry remains on only the tonnage supply and demand picture.

The switch to more environmentally friendly fuels used by transport ships is posing a major challenge for the sector. According to Fitch, this will lead to higher costs and capital expenditure for the companies.