The International Maritime Organization (IMO) had released the new stipulation of shipping vessels should use fuel no more than 0.5% of sulfur when sailing outside the Emission Control Area (ECAs), hoped to reduce the air pollution, and would be implemented from January 2020.

All related industries believed that logistics costs must be increased. No matter how the shipping industry would deal with the changes, it would obviously give a heavy hit on steel exports, which had been impacted by low steel demands and decreasing price trends.

In addition, part of the shipping modality might be changed. For instance, container transportation might increase since bulk carriers were generally too auld, which would be impacted the most by the new regulation.