We are an independent shipbroker with an approach focused on expertise rather than scale.
Please click here to open a presentation introducing Affinity (Shipping) LLP.
Trumponomics revisited
After dabbling in international relations, the leader of the free world takes another stab at reducing the US deficit.
By now you’ve heard it before. "Last year, we lost USD 500 billion on trade with China,… We can’t let that happen.“, though at the time it was unclear what figure President Trump was citing, given America’s trade deficit with China has never climbed past USD 375 Bn. The notion that trade deficits suggest other countries are taking advantage of the US is simplistic at best. While most economists do not see a trade gap as money “lost”, we won’t try to cover the full extent of the arguments against the President’s understanding of international trade. Suffice it to say, some of the macroeconomic factors that play a role include the relative growth rates of countries, the value of their respective currencies, savings and investment rates etc. Fun fact, during the Great Recession America’s trade deficit narrowed dramatically as national consumption fell flat.
The reason this all matters for us in shipping relates of course to the policies arising from the attempt at fixing this perceived problem. At the time of writing the US has nearly completed a
second list of tariffs on USD 100 Bn worth of a variety of Chinese goods. While efforts have been taken to target goods where substitutes from other countries are available, thus minimising the impact on US consumers, a potential retaliation from China is likely to further target US agricultural exports to the country. China has reiterated it’s preference for dialogue to resolve differences, while also publishing its own list of potential tariffs, covering soybeans, aircraft and cars, to hit back should Washington follow with further measures.
Considering that the US supplied China with 32.8 Mn tonnes of soybeans in 2017, estimated at a value of USD 13.9 Bn, there is little doubt that China’s leverage in any escalation of a trade-war is substantial. While US exports would still find a market, the availability of Soybeans out of the ECSA in particular makes Soy a prime target.
Whether Washington goes ahead with this second round of tariffs will therefore matter for trade flows going forward. However, considering the upcoming US mid-term election one have to ask whether a show of strength from Trump towards China at this stage is worth the risk of reciprocal tariffs effectively targeting the agricultural heartland of Trump’s fan base.
Affinity Research LLP
Dry Cargo
Dry Cargo
Our dry bulk chartering teams in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Santiago, Lima, Singapore and London are cargo-focussed and they fix voyage, COA and time charter business on behalf of their clients with a wide range of ship owners.
Contact: David Oakley
[email protected]
+61 2 9937 8806
Finance
Finance
Affinity Financial Products Ltd is authorised by the FCA to provide advice and execution of regulated activities. We focus our efforts on asset-related transactions often structured as corporate share sales or mergers and acquisitions.
We work in partnership with investment banks providing specific, shipping-related advice.
Contact: Andrew Finn
[email protected]
+44(0)20 3142 0114
LNG
LNG
Our young and dynamic LNG team possess wide-ranging experience of spot and term charters working with all major LNG shipowners and charterers. The LNG team has close interaction with the Newbuilding and Sale & Purchase divisions with an unrivalled track record of contracting LNG newbuildings and in the sale and purchase of LNG assets.
We maintain up-to-date knowledge and an understanding of new technologies within the LNG sector to ensure that our clients can make the most suitable and cost-effective decisions on shipping solutions.
Contact: Joni Mackay
[email protected]
+44(0)20 3142 0133
Newbuilding
Newbuilding
Our Newbuilding team has concluded over 500 newbuildings of all types, including LNGCs, FSRUs, drillships, crude tankers, product tankers and dry cargo vessels. We have contracted in all major newbuilding centres globally, with particular focus on the Korean Shipyards.
Contact: Nick Wood
[email protected]
+44(0)20 3142 0111
Offshore
Offshore
Affinity Offshore is based out of our Oslo and Houston offices. The Team focuses on world-wide sale & purchase of offshore support vessels, as well as chartering – particularly in the Americas and Mediterranean/MENA regions.
Contact: Tor-Øyvind Bjørkli
[email protected]
+47 2109 8211
Research
Research
Our research department combines real time market information with econometric modelling and the latest technology.
Contact: Mark Williams
[email protected]
+44(0)20 3142 0185
S & P
S & P
Our Sale & Purchase team has extensive experience of working with private clients, national shipping companies, major corporates, oil companies, grain houses and institutional investors. We provide a cradle to grave services across all shipping sectors. We operate from London, Singapore and Seoul to give 24-hour coverage of the markets, working for both newbuilding and second-hand buyers.
Contact: Toby English
[email protected]
+44(0)20 3142 0123
Tankers
Tankers
Our established tanker chartering teams serve the industry from London, Houston and Santiago delivering a highly proficient spot chartering service with a prime position in the fuel oil market. The team has close relationships with oil majors, national oil companies, oil traders and major ship owners and operators.
Our ethos for operations and post-fixture is simple: these roles are as important to us as the chartering/commercial function, and we continue to apply those same principles of professional ship broking throughout the life of each fixture.
Contact: Tim Gurdon
[email protected]
+44(0)20 3142 0142
Valuations
Valuations
We provide transparent, objective ship valuation service to major owners, banks and other financial institutions at short notice and a daily basis. We provide a retainer service for regular fleet valuations.
Contact: Ben Pusey
[email protected]
+44(0)20 3142 0125
Dry Cargo
Our dry bulk chartering teams in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Santiago, Lima, Singapore and London are cargo-focussed and they fix voyage, COA and time charter business on behalf of their clients with a wide range of ship owners.
Contact: David Oakley
[email protected]
+61 2 9937 8806
Finance
Affinity Financial Products Ltd is authorised by the FCA to provide advice and execution of regulated activities. We focus our efforts on asset-related transactions often structured as corporate share sales or mergers and acquisitions.
We work in partnership with investment banks providing specific, shipping-related advice.
Contact: Andrew Finn
[email protected]
+44(0)20 3142 0114
LNG
Our young and dynamic LNG team possess wide-ranging experience of spot and term charters working with all major LNG shipowners and charterers. The LNG team has close interaction with the Newbuilding and Sale & Purchase divisions with an unrivalled track record of contracting LNG newbuildings and in the sale and purchase of LNG assets.
We maintain up-to-date knowledge and an understanding of new technologies within the LNG sector to ensure that our clients can make the most suitable and cost-effective decisions on shipping solutions.
Contact: Joni Mackay
[email protected]
+44(0)20 3142 0133
Newbuilding
Our Newbuilding team has concluded over 500 newbuildings of all types, including LNGCs, FSRUs, drillships, crude tankers, product tankers and dry cargo vessels. We have contracted in all major newbuilding centres globally, with particular focus on the Korean Shipyards.
Contact: Nick Wood
[email protected]
+44(0)20 3142 0111
Offshore
Affinity Offshore is based out of our Oslo and Houston offices. The Team focuses on world-wide sale & purchase of offshore support vessels, as well as chartering – particularly in the Americas and Mediterranean/MENA regions.
Contact: Tor-Øyvind Bjørkli
[email protected]
+47 2109 8211
Research
Our research department combines real time market information with econometric modelling and the latest technology.
Contact: Mark Williams
[email protected]
+44(0)20 3142 0185
S & P
Our Sale & Purchase team has extensive experience of working with private clients, national shipping companies, major corporates, oil companies, grain houses and institutional investors. We provide a cradle to grave services across all shipping sectors. We operate from London, Singapore and Seoul to give 24-hour coverage of the markets, working for both newbuilding and second-hand buyers.
Contact: Toby English
[email protected]
+44(0)20 3142 0123
Tankers
Our established tanker chartering teams serve the industry from London, Houston and Santiago delivering a highly proficient spot chartering service with a prime position in the fuel oil market. The team has close relationships with oil majors, national oil companies, oil traders and major ship owners and operators.
Our ethos for operations and post-fixture is simple: these roles are as important to us as the chartering/commercial function, and we continue to apply those same principles of professional ship broking throughout the life of each fixture.
Contact: Tim Gurdon
[email protected]
+44(0)20 3142 0142
Valuations
We provide transparent, objective ship valuation service to major owners, banks and other financial institutions at short notice and a daily basis. We provide a retainer service for regular fleet valuations.
Contact: Ben Pusey
[email protected]
+44(0)20 3142 0125
Click here for our terms of business
Floor 44
The Leadenhall Building
122 Leadenhall Street
London EC3A 8EE
T +44 (0)203 142 0100
View full office info
LONDON
Floor 44
The Leadenhall Building
122 Leadenhall Street
London EC3A 8EE
T +44 (0)203 142 0100
View full office info
72 Anson Road
#13–03 Anson House
Singapore
079911
T +65 6805 8760
View full office info
SINGAPORE
72 Anson Road
#13–03 Anson House
Singapore
079911
T +65 6805 8760
View full office info
Level 8
420 St Kilda Road
Melbourne
VIC 3004
Australia
T +61 398 671 466
View full office info
MELBOURNE
Level 8
420 St Kilda Road
Melbourne
VIC 3004
Australia
T +61 398 671 466
View full office info
8/38 Colin Street
West Perth
WA 6005
Australia
T +61 892 260 618
View full office info
PERTH
8/38 Colin Street
West Perth
WA 6005
Australia
T +61 892 260 618
View full office info
1st Floor
64 Alexander Street
Crows Nest, NSW 2065
Australia
T +61 299 378 800
View full office info
SYDNEY
1st Floor
64 Alexander Street
Crows Nest, NSW 2065
Australia
T +61 299 378 800
View full office info
#703, Shin-A Building
50 Seosomun-ro 11gil
Jung-gu, Seoul
South Korea
100-752
View full office info
SEOUL
#703, Shin-A Building
50 Seosomun-ro 11gil
Jung-gu, Seoul
South Korea
100-752
View full office info
601 Pacific House
20 Queen's Road Central
Central, Hong Kong
T +852 2154 2237
View full office info
HONG KONG
601 Pacific House
20 Queen's Road Central
Central, Hong Kong
T +852 2154 2237
View full office info
1301 McKinney Street
Suite 2975
Houston, Texas
77010, USA
T +1 832 925 7500
View full office info
HOUSTON
1301 McKinney Street
Suite 2975
Houston, Texas
77010, USA
T +1 832 925 7500
View full office info
Marco Polo Parkside Building 1005,
Anli Road No. 80,
Chaoyang District,
Beijing, China, 100101
View full office info
BEIJING
Marco Polo Parkside Building 1005,
Anli Road No. 80,
Chaoyang District,
Beijing, China, 100101
View full office info
Basadre 607,
Office 208, Lima, Peru
T +511 712 3772
View full office info
LIMA
Basadre 607,
Office 208, Lima, Peru
T +511 712 3772
View full office info
Augusto Leguia Norte 100
Office 710
Las Condes
7550155 Santiago
Chile
T +56 22 352 7100
View full office info
SANTIAGO
Augusto Leguia Norte 100
Office 710
Las Condes
7550155 Santiago
Chile
T +56 22 352 7100
View full office info
Inkognitogata 35,
0256 Oslo
Norway
View full office info
OSLO
Inkognitogata 35,
0256 Oslo
Norway
View full office info