Dry bulk supply chain set to meet in Geneva

(Posted on 02/05/23)

Geneva Dry has been launched, setting out to become the global annual dry bulk gathering. Set to run from May 2 to 3 next year at the five-star Hotel President Wilson on the banks of Lake Geneva, the business event will welcome delegates and speakers from across the world to take part in a unique gathering for the dry bulk sector, providing a suitable environment for charterers, shipowners and suppliers to meet and hatch out deals with plenty of significant announcements expected to arise from the two-day gathering.

Geneva Dry has been created by the team behind shipping news site Splash, organisers of the exclusive Maritime CEO Forum series.

Split into sectors, panels will bring together analysts, financiers, miners, traders and shipowners to discuss where the markets are headed.

Sessions include minor bulks, grains, coal, iron ore and decarbonisation with a special digital workshop included.

Commented Grant Rowles, Geneva Dry’s commercial director, “While other sectors, notably cruise, LNG and containers, have established annual mega summits, up until now, the dry bulk community has not had a single, global get-together where they can sit down to talk business, and seek collaborative solutions to the issues the industry is facing. With Geneva Dry, we hope to create that space.”

Geneva is the world’s biggest commodities trading hub. Its global market share is estimated at 35% for oil, 60% for metals, 50% for cereals and 40% for sugar.

“The vast majority of the big players in international trade have a presence in Geneva, and yet until now this landlocked city has not had a premier global event to cater for all their shipping needs. Geneva Dry will serve as the platform for dry bulk deals to be sealed,” commented V. Subramanian (Subra), Geneva Dry’s event director.

Other members of the team include Sam Chambers, editorial director at Splash, and Victor Halder, the event’s general manager of sales.

Confirmed speakers today - with exactly one year to go until the summit - include some of the most famous names in dry bulk shipping with a host of commodities traders set to be unveiled shortly.

Edward Buttery, CEO of London-listed Taylor Maritime and Grindrod Shipping, Tim Huxley, CEO of Mandarin Shipping, Olivia Lennox-King, COO of handysize giant Cetus Maritime, John Michael Radziwill, chairman of Monaco-based GoodBulk, and Alexander Saverys, the CEO of Antwerp-based CMB are all flying in to speak at the event.