Welcome to today's Pacific Basin 2025 First Quarter Trading Update Conference Call. I am pleased to present Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Martin Fruergaard. For the first part of this call, all participants will be in listen-only mode, and afterwards there'll be a question-and-answer session. Mr. Fruergaard, please begin.
Thank you very much. Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for attending Pacific Basin's First Quarter Trading Update Call. My name is Martin Fruergaard, CEO of Pacific Basin. I trust you have received our presentation, which I will now run through to highlight key points before moving on to the Q&A session. Please turn to slide three. In the Q1 of 2025, Handysize and Supramax market trade rates followed their seasonal patterns, and market activity reduced leading up to the Lunar New Year at the end of January, after which trade rates rebounded as activity picked up in February. Market spot rates for Handysize and Supramax vessels averaged $8,000 and $7,900 net per day, respectively, representing a decrease of 24% and 36% compared to the same period in 2024.
The Baltic Exchange Forward Freight Agreement average Handysize rate for the remainder of 2025 is $9,120 net per day, and the average Supramax FFA rate is $9,860 net per day. Please turn to slide four. In the Q1 of 2025, global minor bulk loadings were approximately 2% higher compared to the same period last year. This growth was driven by notable increases in the loading of bauxite, cement, and clinker. Imports of bauxite from Guinea into China continued to be strong, and China's steel production export increased in the Q1 . In the same period, global grain loadings decreased by 16% year-on-year, impacted by reduced Chinese demand following an increase in domestic supply of corn and wheat amid rising trade frictions. Harvest delay in Brazil slowed its grain exports, but the country is projected to achieve a record crop in 2025, with significant increase in soybean production.
On the other hand, the United States saw an 11% year-on-year increase in grain loadings, as the anticipated tariff triggered a rush to import more soybean from the U.S . Global coal loadings dropped 5% year-on-year in the Q1 . This reduction was driven by an 11% drop in seaborne coal volumes to China, owing to large stockpiles and increased supply from domestic sources and from Mongolia. Similar coal volumes to India reduced by 6% due to slower manufacturing activity and increased domestic coal production. However, the decline was partly offset by increased coal imports into other Asian countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Bangladesh. Global iron ore loadings in the period declined by 7% year-on-year, primarily due to reduced Australian iron ore loadings caused by disruptions from consecutive cyclones in January and February.
Iron ore loadings for China declined by 9%, reflecting weak domestic demand for steel and mounting trade tensions. However, we saw iron ore volumes increase in March, and we expect support from post-disruption catch-up in Australia and potential stimulus from China to address the impact of tariffs. Please turn to slide five. In the Q1 of 2025, our core business achieved average Handysize and Supramax daily time charter equivalent earnings of $10,940 and $12,210 per day, respectively. This represents a year-on-year decrease of 1% and 10%, respectively. For the Q2 of 2025, we have covered 77% and 95% of committed vessel days for our Handysize and Supramax core fleet at $11,390 and $12,400 per day, respectively. These rates are currently higher than market spot rates and Baltic Exchange FFA rates, which stand at $9,110 and $9,870 net per day.
Our cash break-even level for owned Handysize and Supramax vessels are $5,780 and $6,200, respectively, which includes G&A, finance cost, and OPEX. These levels ensure our ability to generate a positive cash flow going forward. For the H2 of the year, we have covered 25% and 37% of committed vessel days for our Handysize and Supramax core fleet at $10,150 and $12,090 per day, respectively. Please turn to slide six. In the Q1 of 2025, we outperformed the Handysize and Supramax spot market indices by $2,940 and $4,380 per day, respectively, as we covered the period in anticipation of seasonal weaknesses, especially around Lunar New Year, when trade rates typically soften. Our operating activity generated a daily average margin of $830 per day over 6,950 operating days in the Q1 , representing an increase of 63% and 4% year-on-year, respectively. Please turn to slide eight.
The near-term bulk market demand outlook is clouded by uncertainties from increasing trade and geopolitical tensions. However, ongoing disruption in the Red Sea and potential shifts in the trade flows could provide some support to ton-mile demand. Minor bulk continues to see broad-based increases in projected volumes driven by manganese ore, bauxite, and fertilizers. However, demand for construction materials such as cement and steel products remained weak. Hinging on global economic development, this is expected to remain uncertain in the near term. Iron ore demand is projected to be under pressure due to reduced Chinese domestic demand and increased trade frictions, which have prompted plans to again curb steel output, although we have recently seen an increase in Chinese steel export.
Coal demand in major importing countries such as China and India is expected to decline due to increased supply from domestic production and Mongolia overland, while the transition towards renewable energy in Europe and some Asian countries continues to impact global coal demand. We expect some support to come from ASEAN countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia, while anticipate stimulus in China to counteract the impact of tariffs could potentially boost demand for coal. Brazil is projected to achieve a record grain crop yield in 2025, and China is expected to shift its grain export from the U.S. to Brazil due to intensified trade tensions, which translate into more ton-mile. Please turn to slide nine. In 2025, global net fleet growth is projected to outpace demand growth. Global dry bulk and minor bulk fleets are estimated to grow 3% and 4.5% in 2025, respectively.
This growth is driven by an increase in newbuilding deliveries, particularly in the Handysize and Supramax segment, which is estimated to account for around 5% of combined fleet growth in 2025, while minor bulk fleet scrapping is forecasted to be only half a percent of the fleet. However, the long-term supply fundamentals remain favorable, with the total dry bulk order book and the combined Handysize and Supramax order book both currently standing at around 10% only, while newbuilding ordering activity recorded a 90% year-on-year decrease in the Q1 . New orders continue to be constrained by limited yard capacity and uncertainties around decarbonization and the proposed US port fees on Chinese-built ships.
Meanwhile, the scrapping pool continued to expand, given limited scrapping and aging fleet, with Handysize and Supramax vessels over 20 years old, representing 14% and 12% of the existing fleet, which is larger than the current order book, pointing to a foundation for long-term structural supply shortage, which is likely to be accelerated by decarbonization regulation in shipping. In addition, about 1/3 of the minor bulk fleet was delivered between 2009 and 2012, and their replacement will be required in the next decade. Please turn to slide 10. The situation in the Red Sea remained volatile as earlier ceasefire attempts unraveled and disruptions in the region continued. This highlights just how fragile truces of geopolitical tensions can be and their continuous impact on shipping, which in this case has resulted in increased ton-miles as shipping companies have been rerouting vessels around South Africa.
We continue to monitor these situations closely. Although the dry bulk sector is less impacted compared to other shipping sectors, there could be further pressure on dry bulk ton-miles demand if transit through the Suez Canal normalizes, which remained uncertain at the moment. Please turn to slide 11. Growing protectionism and geopolitical conflicts around the world bring uncertainties for bulk shipping and the global economy, but they may also present opportunities depending on market and government responses. Global commodity demand is expected to remain steady in 2025. Broad-based minor bulk and grain volumes could potentially offset the impact of softening demand for iron ore and coal due to high stockpiles and the weak property market in China. Further stimulus in China is expected to meet its economic growth target of around 5% amidst rising challenges and to counteract the potential impact of tariffs.
While tariffs and other protectionism measures, such as the proposed US port fees, could suppress trade volumes, drive up inflation, and hinder global economic growth, the versatility of the dry bulk trade could potentially lead to an increase in ton-mile demand as trade flows shift, resulting in longer voyages and increased congestion, providing some support to the dry bulk trade market. Uncertainties around trade, decarbonization, and U.S. policy have dampened the interest for new building orders, and this continues to support supply fundamentals in the longer term, despite near-term pressure from new deliveries pushing estimated minor bulk net fleet growth of 4.5% above estimated demand of 1% in 2025.
However, the current total dry bulk order book of around 10% and limited new building orders, coupled with the expected midterm decarbonization measures from the IMO, which are likely to result in speed reduction and increase in fleet inefficiencies and scrapping, provide the basis for favorable long-term supply fundamentals. We are cautious about the development and uncertainty in the global market, but we believe our experience and customer-focused global organization, our financial strength, and the versatility of our business position us well to navigate these uncertain times and take advantage of arising opportunities. Please turn to slide 13. Our core fleet is the major contributor of our profit, and it consists of 123 Handysize and Supramax vessels, of which over 70% are Japanese-built.
Our strategy is to grow and renew our fleet, but we maintain a disciplined approach, especially amidst uncertainties in the market and the prevailing vessel prices. In the Q1 of 2025, we continue to add larger and younger vessels to our own fleet by exercising purchase options for two long-term chartered Japanese-built Handysize vessels. We also sold and delivered three older, smaller Handysize vessels with an average age of 21 years as part of our renewal strategy. Since 2021, we have purchased 22 larger and younger second-hand vessels while selling 28 older, smaller vessels. This adds over 200,000 tons dead weight of new capacity to our fleet, equivalent to a 4% increase in total dead weight of the fleet.
In November last year, we ordered four dual-fuel methanol LEV new buildings in Japan for delivery in 2028 and 2029, which we believe are well-timed and will contribute positively to our future earnings. LEV new buildings provide Pacific Basin with additional optionality for growth and enable us to meet the industry target of net zero by 2050. Last week, IMO announced that an agreement has been reached on its midterm measures designed to force ships to adopt cleaner fuels from 2028 or face financial penalties. We are currently evaluating the measures and their expected impact. We support the efforts of IMO in respect to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and believe the agreed measures are an important step forward for the shipping industry and that they will support our initial investments in fuel optimization, as well as our dual-fuel methanol LEV new buildings.
We hope the rules will be adopted at the next MEPC session in October 2025. More is obviously required to accelerate the transition, but if adopted, it will be an important milestone and the right step forward to begin decarbonizing the shipping industry. Please turn to slide 14. Long-term inward charter of vessels, particularly new buildings built in Japan, with latest design that maximizes fuel efficiency, enable us to expand our core fleet while maintaining maximum optionality as they come with options that allow us to extend the charter or to purchase the vessels at fixed prices. We currently have firm commitments for 20 long-term chartered vessels, four of which are due for delivery between 2025 and 2026, consisting of three 64,000 dead weight Ultramaxes and one 42,000 dead weight Handysize. These new buildings are all built in Japan and will be equipped with scrubbers.
During Q1 , we declare purchase options on two long-term chartered vessels, which will be delivered during the summer. In the H2 of 2025, we can declare purchase options on additional two Handysize vessels built in 2017 and 2020, and one Ultramax vessel built in 2017, all again from Japanese shipbuilders and attractively priced. In light of the uncertainties ahead, we remain close to our customers and are continuously optimizing our short-term cargo commitments to position ourselves optimally in what is expected to be a volatile market. At the same time, we have the financial strength to pursue growth opportunities that normally arise from increased market uncertainties, which will position us well for the next market upturn. Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes our 2025 Q1 trading update presentations. I will now hand over the call to the operator for Q&A. Thank you. Thank you.
We will now begin our question and answer session. If you have a question for today's speaker, please join the Zoom link via the blue Ask a Question button. Press the raised hand button and you will enter a queue. After you are announced, please unmute yourself, state your name and company, and ask your question. If you find that your question has been answered before it is your turn to speak, please press the lower hand button to leave the queue. You may also type your questions in the Q&A box. Our first question comes from Parash Jain. Please go ahead.
Hi, Martin. Can you hear me?
I can hear you, Parash.
Lovely. Thank you and good evening. I have two questions. First, with respect to the development in the Q1 , given an apparent imbalance with respect to supply and demand and the fact that the average TC/freight rate remains significantly above the cash cost level, or rather profitable level at a P&L, does it signal us that it is pretty much the bottom as far as demand and supply mismatch is concerned? Evolution through the year probably will be anything above those levels, what we have seen in the Q1 . My second question will be more on how is Pacific Basin preparing for various scenarios of USTR? Are you seeing your Japanese-built vessels' values are going up versus some of the Chinese-built vessels that you have, both in the second-hand as well as in the new-build market? Thank you. Yeah.
I guess, Parash, the first question was a little bit, what is the rate expectations for the rest of the year? Was that what you were asking me?
I mean, what I was asking you is that Q1 , given the demand and supply imbalance, freight rate could have landed anywhere. The fact that it has settled at a level where you are comfortably profitable, especially on the cash level. What are the driving forces which are supporting the freight rate in a scenario of supply exceeding demand? What shall we understand from that pattern for the rest of the year?
Yeah. Let me try and talk a little bit about the market. You can say that the market this year actually developed a little bit as it normally does.
You saw the dip in the market in respect to up to Chinese New Year. Actually, the market developed maybe a little bit like it normally should have done. It did not do that last year, but it did it this year. As you can see from our earnings, or at least our TCE earnings, we were well positioned for that, prepared for that part of it. When you look at, if you look a little bit ahead at the market, if you look at the market right now, I would say I can see all share prices in April, of course, took a big dip, and some of them had recovered a little bit and so on. The freight rates are actually quite stable. They sort of did not do much during April.
We have actually had a fairly flat market at a decent level in that part. I think what happened in the market is that when all these things started, everybody steps back, especially those who have cargoes in and out of the U.S. You immediately saw some impacts on that part of it. Everybody steps back a little bit to see what's going on now. Of course, our cargo owners, of course, sort of step a little bit back and wait a little bit to see what will all this mean. I think they're still stepping back and waiting to see exactly what's going to happen. There is still a lot of activity in many other places, and we see actually a quite active market.
I spoke to our commercial people today as well, and also earlier this week, and what they're saying is that probably the market is more thinking about Easter holiday and Golden Week and Indian monsoon right now. There is actually activity in the market. I think the impact of all the tariff discussions probably has a little bit of impact in people stepping back and not replenishing the inventories and these things, but there's still activity in the market. I also have to say, Parash, there's so much, all these things, there's so much uncertainty with all the things going on, and it's very hard to predict exactly how that's going to be going forward.
I think the way we look at it now is that we will have more volatility in the market, and that's also how we set ourselves up in respect to our cover in it. That's normally what we do well is position ourselves well with a lot of volatility in the market. That did not happen last year. Last year, we had some issues getting the upside of these things, but I think we are much better positioned this year. Our contract cover is also, I would not say quality is better. It sounded like it was bad quality last year. It was not, but it is a little bit different this year compared to, it is a little bit less, but it is also a little bit different. It is not so much backhaul. It is a little bit different in that sense.
We think we are better positioned for a more volatile market.
Fundamentally, of course, and we also said that early in the year, there is a lot, there's more ships being delivered than what we see on the growth side of it. The concern is, of course, where does all this end up? Will it end up in some sort of recession? That is, of course, not very nice in it. If it's only trading patterns that change and so on, that's normally good for us. If it takes overhand and it impacts the global economy, that would not be so good. We are still dependent on global trade growth in that part. I hope, Parash, that answers your question in that sense. Yes, yes. Depending on USTR? Yeah. Yes. Yeah, it's basically USTR. In some ways, we are well positioned that 70% of our fleet is Japanese-built.
As always, we always see there's also some opportunities in that part of it. Of course, we didn't buy those ships in Japan for this reason. We did it for different reasons, of course, better performance and at least over time and speed consumption and these things in it. Now, of course, this comes up. We see that there's some opportunities in it. The challenge is, of course, so far, we don't really know exactly what the regulation will be. What we hear right now, and we actually expect to see more today, I think it's supposed to come from the U.S. today. What we expect to see is, compared to what we saw earlier, that the demand or the requirements will be somewhat diluted compared to the initial statements that we had.
We will probably also feel, maybe also hope a little bit that it will be more linked to ship sizes than port calls. There is also lots of, I think the devil is in the detail of this. I think we are sitting here waiting to see what it is, hoping also a little bit that they will give us a little bit of time before they implement the regulation. I also hear the rumors that they will only do it at the end of the year. I think that would be, I think it's going to, we think it's going to happen. We think it's going to happen for different reasons in it. We see that as things we need to do, that we will prepare to do that.
We also see a little bit as an opportunity for Pacific Basin in all of this, but it will probably require a little bit of preparing and planning to do that. Of course, Parash, of course, I think, again, we have a big own fleet of ships, and we're sitting here looking a little bit ahead as well. What it also will do is, of course, it will put some pressure on the yards in respect to who's going to build new buildings in China. A little bit of question. I think that would have an impact on that part of it. In the second-hand market, you also asked about that. In the second-hand market, I wouldn't, we are selling some of the old ships we have been selling. They are Japanese-built. I would not say that we get a lot more money.
We always get good prices because well-maintained ships, but there's probably more liquidity. There's interest. There's probably more buyers in it. Maybe that also has an impact on the prices. I think if we haven't sold any Chinese-built ships, I think if we had one of those, I think there would be less buyers interested.
Absolutely. No, that's very, very helpful. It was quite reassuring to see Pacific Basin reestablishing its premium over the spot market. That was quite reassuring. Thank you. I'll now pass it back to the operator. Thank you.
Thank you, Parash. Have a good Easter.
Thank you very much. Our next question will come from Nathan Gee. Please unmute yourself and go ahead.
Hi, Martin. Thanks for the call. Maybe three questions from me.
Firstly, just in terms of second-hand prices, I think they're down about 10% to 20% from peak. So can you comment on whether second-hand purchases are looking a bit more interesting? That's the first question. Secondly, just in terms of the buyback, was there any internal debate in terms of potentially pausing the program given the macro uncertainties right now? And then thirdly, Luke Clarksons, I think, is also calling for oversupply into 2026. Do you have any early sort of base case view for next year or just too early to say, too hard to say given uncertainties? Thanks. Yeah.
So yeah, it's true. Second-hand prices, they actually did come down the end of last year into this year, but it actually has come up a little bit as well lately in it. And that could actually have something to do with the USTR and other things.
We're actually discussing a little bit why is it doing that? Because the market did the usual dip in January and then came back. I'm not so sure that's driving the second-hand prices. Actually, we have actually seen a little bit of improvement on second-hand prices the last month or so. Not a lot, but just a little. Of course, new-building prices are fairly flat, maybe a little bit down, but that's pretty much flat in that part. It will be interesting to see how that is developing. As I said before, I think the USTR will have a big impact on that development as well. Same about inflation and exchange rates. Everything is a little bit in play at the moment. We have to see how that is going.
On the buyback side of it, we have bought back $13.5 million of shares, $63.5 million shares so far. We are always discussing what is the right thing to do in it. Fundamentally, we actually still believe that we are undervalued when you look at the share price compared to the fair market NAV of the company. Even if you are a little bit, if you wanted to be a little bit negative on the asset values, we are still trading at a big discount. The cheapest asset we can buy still is our own shares. I think we will continue to do that. We will, of course, monitor what's happening in the world and so on. I think unless something major happens, we will continue to do the share buyback as we had also announced to the market.
That's great. Any early?
The last one was the oversupply. I have to say, Nathan, with all the things going on at the moment, I haven't really looked at 2026. Okay, completely fair. No, but fundamentally, when you look at the order book, the order book is, if you can say that it's peaking this year, the order book will decrease next year. You can always discuss, will there be some ships being pushed from this year to next year? You never know about that. This year is the highest number of ships being delivered when we look at it. It will come down somewhat next year and even lower again the year after. If you want to do a new building today, it is basically 2028. There is a lot of transparency on the supply side going forward in that sense. The demand, so that's quite clear.
Of course, some adjustments, but it's quite clear what the supply would be. The demand, again, there's so many questions in. It's very, very hard to predict. It depends on, of course, the outcome of all the discussion going on at the moment where that ends up. We are still, when we look at it, the trade routes will change. That is normally good for us. Many of the disruptors that we are seeing at the moment, it's hard to see them going away in the short term, and that's normally also quite good for the market. Actually, new disruptors will come along, USTR and other things. Probably a lot of volatility in the market. Fundamentally, overall, the best thing for us would be a world where global trade is increasing and global growth is going on at high levels.
That's fundamentally long-term better for us than these short-term disruptors. That helps. We have to also admit that our market sometimes is driven by these disruptors, as we saw last year with Suez Canal or Red Sea and Panama, and they keep coming.
Perfect. Thank you. Thanks so much, Martin.
Thank you.
I have one online question. Martin, what's your take on the IMO midterm measures? Thank you.
Yeah, I would say, first of all, I think about IMO, we are studying it. We only got it last week. The devil is always in the detail. There's a little bit of studying going on on that side. When we sort of look at it overall, this is actually what we had expected.
This is actually also what we had hoped a little bit for, that they came up with such a level playing field regulation where they actually put a fee on the emissions you do based on the fuels you're using. I personally feel this is a good way of doing it. This is actually also the foundation for our ordering of LEV. We had expected and hoped that this would happen, and now it's happening. Do we think that the initial reaction on the size of the fees? We think it's a little bit of a slow transition, but we also respect fully that you need to get everybody on board and you need to get at least majority on these things. We also understand we have to take it in stages in that part of it.
We actually do think that this supports the strategy that we have had, both with respect to renewing our fleet to reduce our consumption, our existing ships, and also our investments in the LEV ships on the methanol side. This is the right step forward. Still always not happy thinking it's too little, but I think if this is adopted in October when they have to do that at IMO, I think this is a milestone for the industry and it's a good signal to send. This is something that will be positive in the transition, both in respect to get rid of some of the older, less efficient ships and hopefully get more of these dual-fuel LEV ships into the market.
We have another online question. What's the driver behind your operating margin improvement?
Yeah, it is, compared to last year, you can say we actually, in all fairness, I would say we are returning to what a level that we're supposed to have on operating business. I would say last year, the margins of the operating business was too low. It was actually linked mainly to the steel business we did last year where there was a lot of steel going out of China. We do a lot of those businesses. We were caught a little bit both in respect to delays in port and congestion and so on. We were also caught a little bit because many of our deals go to loading areas. There are backhaul voyages with steel. Maybe we got into areas where the bonus we normally get was sort of not there as much.
We have changed a little bit how we are doing it. We have put more focus on optimization in the ports. We are also using a little bit more our own ships for these trades because it gives a little bit more flexibility. I said a little bit earlier, I think the quality of how we do things, a little bit more focus on the margins, a little bit less aggressive on the number of days, even though we are increasing the number of days in it to make sure we get the full value out of it. I think the nearly $900 in operating profit and a little bit higher number of days, that's where we're supposed to be. The focus will be on maintaining that and hopefully improving it over time.
Just a reminder, if you do have a question for today's speaker, you can join the Zoom link via the blue Ask a Question button or press the raised hand button and you will enter the queue. After you're announced, you can unmute yourself, state your name and question, and ask your question. If you find that your question has been asked before it's your turn to speak, please press the lower hand button to leave the queue. You may also type your questions in the Q&A box. I'll just pause for a moment to allow any more questioners to form the queue. Okay, we have a queue. We have a question. We have Yasmin Key. Would you like to unmute yourself and go ahead? Yasmin, I can see you've unmuted yourself, but we can't hear you. Could you just try speaking again?
Hi. Hi, Martin. Can you hear me? Hi.
Hi. Yeah, I can hear you.
Yeah, thank you. Thank you for taking my question. I have two questions. The first one is, as you have mentioned, that some buyer has stepped back on the back of uncertain US tariffs and you have seen some trade shifts. My first question is, can you share more on what kind of trade shift has you seen in the past few weeks and what kind of commodities has you seen the shift? The second question is that, as you mentioned, M&A opportunities as a strategy to grow your fleet. I want to hear more on this side. Do you look for smaller companies in the intra-Asian market or other projects on the dry bulk segment? Yeah, thank you. Thank you very much.
When we talk about commodities into the in and out of the US on our size of ships, it's, of course, grain. It is fertilizers. It's cement, salt, forest products, and these things. I think I can't say if, and also scrap. I can't say if all of them have been impacted, but I think just in general, that's the feeling that everybody, also the ship owners and operators, are stepping back a little bit for anything that involves cargo or ships in and out of the US. I'm sure something is still ongoing. Of course, there's contractual obligations and these things. It's still ongoing. I think there's probably also a discussion about who's going to take the risk of different things. I think today, hopefully, we get a little bit more clarity from USTR.
I think that would help a lot on that part of it. It is not that there is no demand. There is actually demand for these things. Who is going to bear the risk? There is so much uncertainty on when are the rules in force. If you do a deal into the U.S. with the ship and you arrive there, is there suddenly a fee on the port call and these things? I think it is very clear and very obvious that everybody steps back and just wants to see that because the money involved is actually fairly big. I think maybe we get something today and maybe next week, a little bit more clarity on it. I am fairly sure that that trade will start again and people will start moving the cargoes.
Of course, the big tariff thing between China and the U.S., of course, that means that trade will, especially trade from the U.S. to China on grains, that will shift somewhere else and that will probably go to Brazil and other places. It makes no sense to do that part. The thing about dry cargo commodities, especially a lot of them, you can always source them somewhere else from. It might not be as optimal distance-wise, but that's the thing. That's sometimes very good for us that you can shift around on that part of it. I hope that answered that question. The M&A part of it, yeah, we are sending a little bit of a signal, I guess, when we sort of put in M&A. The wish is, of course, to tell the market that we are a growth company. We like to grow the company.
We are also growing the company, maybe not as fast as we want to. We have a very solid balance sheet that allows us to do things. We want to be super disciplined about it. In many ways, we like organic growth because it gives us the choice of what kind of ships we get, quality ships, and looking at decarbonization and all these things. On the other hand, we also like to keep the door open for M&A opportunities. We would definitely look at companies that maybe have a little bit of the same culture and synergies to what we do. We do not have sort of a specific point at somebody on this part, but it is, of course, something we keep on evaluating. We will also keep on evaluating. We are just saying that that is also an option. Not an option. We have done a lot.
We are normally doing organic growth. And we like that, actually. But we like to keep the door open for other growth opportunities.
Very clear. Thank you.
Okay. And just a final reminder, if you would like to ask a question and you're on the webcast, you can click the blue Join the Meeting link. Once you're in the webinar, you can raise your hand to ask a question and lower your hand if you want to move yourself from the queue. I will just pause for another moment to see if there's any further questions. Okay. As there are no further questions, we will now begin the closing remarks. Please go ahead, Mr. Martin Fruergaard. Thank you very much. I'd like to thank you again for joining us today and your continued support of Pacific Basin.
If you have any further questions, please contact Cameron Ip from our Investor Relations Department. Thank you very much and have a good Easter. Goodbye.