Yang Ming chairman cites geopolitical tensions as hurdles

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The chairman of Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation (Yang Ming, 陽明海運) on Friday (Feb. 7) cited geopolitical tensions and the tariff policies of U.S. President Donald Trump as significant hurdles this year.

At the National Association of Chinese Shipowners' (全國船聯會) spring gathering, Yang Ming Chairman Tsai Feng-ming (蔡豐明) attended and addressed the shipping industry's challenges.

Tsai identified the Middle East ceasefire agreement as a dual-edged sword for the shipping sector, noting its benefit to global peace and its potential to disrupt industry operations. He emphasized the importance of monitoring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and observing fleet deployment and route planning during the first and second quarters.

Tsai remarked that after Trump took office, trade tariff policies became unpredictable, advocating for a strategy of consistency amid volatility.

Reflecting on last year's U.S. port strikes, Tsai highlighted their impact on the supply chain and warned that an oversupply in the market could affect rate adjustments. He noted that Danish shipping and logistics company Maersk has not yet returned to the Red Sea.

Tsai also discussed Yang Ming's proactive approach to climate change and artificial intelligence (AI), expressing optimism that AI integration will enhance efficiency and reduce operating costs.