Wallem brings project cargoes and carriers together

Developing position in the breakbulk sector continues to pay off for ship management group, writes Dickson Chin, Managing Director, Wallem Ship Agency.

Nearly two years after taking Wallem Ship Agency into the sector, Wallem Group’s project cargo business volumes continue to grow, with the number of breakbulk carriers working with our dedicated team significantly increasing through 2024. 

Being an agent that is part of the wider ship management group is an advantage, where technical shipping and port knowledge is often invaluable for clients.

Were main focused on the Southeast Asia market from Japan to Malaysia and continue to grow specific cargo opportunities by building strong client relationships with OEMs and carriers across the region.

We continue to build strong relationships with well-known maritime leaders, such as AAL Shipping, BBC Chartering, United 07, and Clipper Bulk. We are also developing links with Saudi-based Bahri Line.

These are high-profile clients, all of whom share our principles on quality of service, and our mature knowledge of trade routes, types of cargo, and value for money.

In the highly competitive breakbulk sector, we operate on a smaller scale than the larger freight forwarders. Therefore, we do not compete directly with their operational set ups: instead, we serve clients with specific needs and niche market requirements.

Our advantage is our strong network, and the professional relationships that allow our team to provide the personal touch while offering one-stop solutions to take care of all requirements door to door throughout Southeast Asia.

The regional market has been quietly optimistic in 2025, with the forecast demand for breakbulk and project cargo remaining buoyant, driven by ongoing infrastructure projects plus the energy sector.

Freight rates continue to be the challenge, however, and are expected to remain volatile. Furthermore, geopolitical tensions, space capacity constraints, regulatory restrictions in the major economies, port disruptions, tightening environmental rules and seasonal demand fluctuations will continue disrupting the global supply chain.

Like others, we can also only speculate on the full consequences of US trade tariff policies, although disruptions in supply chain flow are highly likely.

The challenge for us and everyone in the breakbulk and project cargo sector lies in navigating the current shipping market environment by adopting a risk-based approach to minimize exposure.

Nevertheless, good opportunities remain a feature of the breakbulk cargo market in 2025, especially in serving destinations that mainstream carriers can overlook. Our established team is in position to capitalize across Southeast Asia.

Opportunities will also be available as China’s One Belt One Road initiative shifts focus, as it seeks to invest in infrastructure projects in new destinations and work with new trading partners - not least with Saudi Arabia.

Wallem will continue to build its competitive services to ensure we deliver excellence to clients, taking advantage of the ‘win-win’ position we occupy as an agency business in our own right and as a team supported by a wider ship management and commercial group capable of delivering the total shipping experience.

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