China is playing a very long-term game with its overall shipping plans, one of the world’s best known names in shipping has told this site. Speaking with SinoShip News, Dr Helmut Sohmen, chairman of the BW Group, discussed the growing Chinese shipbuilding capacity, rising export/import volumes, and increasing investment in shipowning, both private and state-owned.

“Let's face it,” he said, “as a country, China can only benefit from overcapacity and generally low freight rates.”
Sohmen’s thoughts on shipping cycles and how the industry has changed will be in the forthcoming issue of SinoShip News's sister title, Maritime CEO magazine.