Between May 8 and 14, Samudera Shipping Line executive director and CEO Bani Maulana Mulia acquired 99,600 shares at an average price of S$0.80 apiece. This increased his direct interest from 0.65 to 0.67 per cent. His preceding acquisition was in September 2022, with 53,200 shares purchased at S$0.94 a share.

 

These acquisitions followed Samudera providing a Q1 FY 2025 (ended Mar 31) business update on Apr 29. For the container shipping segment, volume in Q1 FY 2025 was higher compared to Q1 FY 2024, but this was lower than Q4 FY 2024.

 

For the bulk and tanker segment, fleet size increased with the delivery of two new gas carriers in 2024, and all vessels are employed under time charter contracts. In its logistics segment, the group noted that the higher volume handled in Q1 FY 2025 compared to Q1 FY2024 was mainly due to an increase in volume from existing and new customers. The segment also continues to grow with new management contracts on fourth-party logistics (4PL).

 

Bani emphasised that Samudera&rsquo s focus on continual improvement enhances its ability to navigate industry shifts and capitalise on opportunities. He maintained that one such opportunity may involve a shift of manufacturing activity towards South-east Asia and India, which could boost demand for container shipping services in these regions.

 

He reasoned that such a realignment of global shipping alliances may alter transhipment and regional shipping routes, presenting both competitive pressures and opportunities for regional operators such as Samudera. Bani also notes that despite challenges in managing vessel availability and high charter-hire costs, new vessel deliveries from 2025 onwards may alleviate some pressure.

 

He adds that Asia, particularly Indonesia, remains the group&rsquo s primary growth market for container shipping. This means the group will pursue strategic collaborations with shipping partners to explore new service offerings and expand beyond its current network, while ensuring operational resilience.