Why Neptune Orient Lines is failing to cash in on massive oil price crash

Don’t expect any savings for NOL.

Investors might expect Neptune Orient Lines to rake in tremendous savings from the ongoing oil price crash, but the shipping line is unfortunately unable to cash in on the unprecedented plunge.

According to OCBC, bunker expenses historically make up around a quarter of NOL’s cost base, but the firm will be unable to take advantage of lower costs because of certain parameters in its sales contract.

“Note that NOL’s sales contract includes bunker adjustment factor which is an adjustment to shipping companies' freight rates to take into account fluctuations in the cost of fuel oil (bunkers) for their ships. As such, we believe NOL will not enjoy much savings on lower bunker prices, being neutral to oil price fluctuations,” stated OCBC.
 

Join Singapore Business Review community
A NOTE FROM SINGAPORE BUSINESS REVIEW

The people you want to reach are already in this room.

Every quarter, SBR lands on the desks of the founders, CFOs, and directors running Asia's most consequential companies. Every day, they open our newsletter and read our website. It's a room that took twenty years to build — and it's the one most of our partners are trying to get into.

The good news is that the door is open. We work with companies on thought leadership articles, sponsored content, industry summits across Southeast Asia, regional awards programmes, podcasts, and media placements in print and digital. The shape of the right partnership depends on what you're trying to do, which is why we'd rather start with a conversation than send a rate card.


If you have something this room should know about, tell us. We'll tell you honestly whether we can help, and how.

No rate cards until we understand the brief. It's a better use of everyone's time.

Top News

Singapore payments to hit $114b by 2030
Transaction value reached $39b in 2023 and is projected to grow 16.3% annually.
Cards & Payments