It was on July 3 this year that first typhoon developed at the sea east off the Philippine. It grew to the central pressure of 900 hectopascal, the maximum wind velocity of 60 meters, the maximum instantaneous wind speed of 85 meters which is called “ Super Typhoon” on July 7. It struck Taiwan on the early morning of July 8. It is expected to go north and afterwards landing the mainland China. In statistics, it is the first time after the war that typhoon No. 1 develops in a day like that. In addition, it is the second slowest record after the war that a typhoon was not generated until July. The typhoon rises on average 26 times a year for the past 30 years. The number of the approaches to Japan is on average 12 times a year. Three times of those strike Japan. It was the cool summer in 2015 that the daylight hours were short and there was much rain. It is caused by El Nino and the Meteorological Agency announces that it will soon return to normal but it will be turning into La Nina this year. The year of changing for La Nina from El Nino phenomenon tends to come to have not many number of the outbreak of Typhoon. Temperature is high, and it seems that a very hot and humid day leads to this summer. Besides, we must prepare for the possibility that three times of typhoons strike Japan. It is hard to predict the violence of nature.
In European Union (EU), it seems to have caused a little confusion by the referendum of June 23 for the UK to have come out of EU. The answer of the English nation would be unexpected to UK Prime Minister, Cameron. On the other hand, the leaders of secession group did not have a vision after the secession, and they are poor in quality as politician to excuse and to shirk their responsibility that they resigned a leader as they finished their role because they were able to achieve the secession and a purpose attained. The politician should take responsibility for a result. A leader of present British Diet member is good at the speech, but they seem to look a son of a respectable family which does not know the trouble of the common people. They may consider politics to be a game? A matriarch may be born in the UK in the same way as the United States. There may be many people expecting a strong leader like Prime Minister Thatcher called a woman of iron. The U.K. needs enormous energy from now on to make a new system after the secession. I want to expect a true leader overcoming it.
It is a digression, but the world may have a tide to expect a matriarch instead of a male leader? It is originally movement to the gender equality society which there should be rather than shifts from the male-dominated society to the female oriented society. At all events some long run-ups are necessary for a change. As much as it is a big organization, it is necessary for the long run-up as much as composition is complicated. There is the power to support it long on the back when it changes naturally to change. But may it be difficult for the change to succeed when it does not mature until a run-up accepts the change?
How is the merger of two major lease companies, Triton and TAL? It is the birth of a mega lease company holding 5 million TEU in two companies. A half year already passed after there was the announcement of the merger in last December. How much run-up was prepared for by the merger announcement of these two companies? It is surely said that the company’s style of TAL generally resembles Triton. Therefore the merger simple is? Only as for this for a scale, the merger of the big lease company is not so simple. If one is to merge the other, it may be easier. However, the merger of Triton and TAL is almost equal merger. In a sense it is the trial of the merger of taking only the merits. I feel strange both companies still participate in the long-term lease bid of the shipping company separately. It is said that they limit it to the manufactured containers which each company placed an order for before merger announcement. However, there may be hard to be drastic judgment, decision because of similar corporate culture inefficiently operated? Therefore, it may take time? The merger of both companies does not seem to be simple for others either. It will reduce the operation cost to half and expected operative gain increase by the merger of two companies simply. However, I cannot but say that the unification of Computer System of the number called 5 million TEU in both companies is more difficult than introduction of System newly. Besides, TAL is listed company, and Triton is Private one. It shows the complexity of the merger. When container demand begins to greatly change, the result of the merger of both companies is tested. I want to pay attention to the whereabouts of the merger of Triton/TAL sequentially.
The new container price of China is slightly weaker than $ 1,400 per 20f. The factory stock of the new containers piles up by 8% to 750,000 TEU in comparison with last month. Both the shipping lines and the container lease companies have still been enduring in unfavorable situation and have been in wait and see situation. The container lease company cannot continue economic activities without the shipping lines. The shipping company needs a container lease company, too. They are in relations of give and take. There is not the prosperity of the lease company without the success of the shipping lines. The success of the container lease company will rely on how they could support a shipping line. The container lease company should take it in their heart.
Containerization is the most efficient means by transportation and it is the epoch-making one which there is nothing to replace it. On that point the shipping lines, the container lease companies have been contributing to the world very much. I want them to have confidence in that. We, EFI are a small scaled company to deal with the buying and selling of the new and used containers. However, I think that the existence of the used container sales companies like us comes to shipping lines and container lease companies not to be able to ignore us these days.
The container lease companies offer containers to the shipping lines and the shipping lines get shippers use them as well as their own containers. It is necessary to replace the in-fleet containers with the new containers in a cycle for ten years. The dents and bents on the surface of the containers come out during usage of 10 years because the container is a container to put a thing in. Rust is caused by it and repair patches become outstanding and they make containers look terrible. Container in such condition may causes chance of cargo damage by water leaks. The maintenance cost of the container rises to great extent when the shipping lines and the container lease companies use them more than ten years. Therefore, it is inevitable for shipping lines and container lease companies to replace them with the new containers on 10 years cycle to get their shippers feel free from any cargo damage.
Our power is small but we have the self-confidence to support shipping lines, container lease companies to great extent and we feel a pride that we play an important part in containerization.