--- title: Modest March activity, but rates remain healthy description: "Chinese car sales surge as U.S. tariffs loom\n\nUnlike the more dynamic movements seen in the oil and LPG markets, the PCTC segment remained relatively calm throughout March — which is not unusual for this sector, as it tends to be more stable by nature." image: https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/hubfs/M4_article_3.jpg --- [![EMF](https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/hubfs/Maritime_Finance_April2024/images/EMF.png)](https://maritimefinance.ch/fr) - [ABOUT](https://maritimefinance.ch/about-us/) - [OUR FLEET](https://maritimefinance.ch/our-fleet/) - [PAST PERFORMANCE](https://maritimefinance.ch/past-performance/) - [INVESTMENTS](https://maritimefinance.ch/investments/) - [MARKET NEWS](https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/en/marketreportweekly) - [GLOBAL NEWS](https://maritimefinance.ch/global-news/) - [CONTACT US](https://maritimefinance.ch/contact-us/) - [ABOUT](https://maritimefinance.ch/about-us/) - [OUR FLEET](https://maritimefinance.ch/our-fleet/) - [PAST PERFORMANCE](https://maritimefinance.ch/past-performance/) - [INVESTMENTS](https://maritimefinance.ch/investments/) - [MARKET NEWS](https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/en/marketreportweekly) - [GLOBAL NEWS](https://maritimefinance.ch/global-news/) - [CONTACT US](https://maritimefinance.ch/contact-us/) [![fr_FR](https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/hubfs/Maritime_Finance_April2024/images/fr_FR.png)](https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/marketreportweekly?hsLang=en) [![en_GB](https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/hubfs/Maritime_Finance_April2024/images/en_GB.png)](https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/en/marketreportweekly?hsLang=en) [![fr_FR](https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/hubfs/Maritime_Finance_April2024/images/fr_FR.png)](https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/marketreportweekly?hsLang=en) ![Modest March activity, but rates remain healthy](https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/hubfs/M4_article_3.jpg) # Modest March activity, but rates remain healthy - Home - [\[Market Report\] Monthly](https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/en/market-report-monthly) - Modest March activity, but rates remain healthy 04/08/2025 [Market update](https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/en/market-report-monthly/tag/market-update) 1 Minutes ![M4_article_3](https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/hs-fs/hubfs/M4_article_3.jpg?width=1200&height=772&name=M4_article_3.jpg) Chinese car sales surge as U.S. tariffs loom Unlike the more dynamic movements seen in the oil and LPG markets, the PCTC segment remained relatively calm throughout March — which is not unusual for this sector, as it tends to be more stable by nature. 2025 begins quietly yet promisingly Although time charter rates have fallen from the record highs of 2023 and 2024, they remain at elevated levels well above the break-even point, providing attractive returns and supporting the segment. U.S. Tariffs: A Potential Disruption A development to watch is the announcement by the United States of a 25% import tariff on foreign-made cars and light trucks, set to take effect on April 3. Since the U.S. is a major importer of European, Japanese, and Chinese vehicles, this could lead to future changes in trade flows. Significant increase in Chinese car exports On a more positive note, Chinese vehicle exports rose by nearly 20% year-on-year during the first two months of 2025, reaching approximately 880,000 units. The most significant growth was seen in exports to the Middle East (+82%), followed by Europe (+8%), while exports to Russia decreased by about 20%. Finally, and not least: Delivery of the Electric Star! We are also pleased to inform you about the progress in developing our own PCTC fleet. Our first vessel, the Electric Star, was successfully delivered earlier this month. The second vessel, the Green Star, is scheduled to be launched in mid-April, with delivery expected in early summer 2025. Construction is proceeding as planned. ![M 4_article_3_Electric_Star](https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/hs-fs/hubfs/M%204_article_3_Electric_Star.jpg?width=1200&height=400&name=M%204_article_3_Electric_Star.jpg) Our PCTC carrier Electric Star is under construction at the Raffles shipyard in Yantai, China. ![M 4_article_3_Green_Star](https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/hs-fs/hubfs/M%204_article_3_Green_Star.jpg?width=1200&height=400&name=M%204_article_3_Green_Star.jpg) Our PCTC carrier Green Star is currently under construction at the Raffles shipyard in Yantai, China. *Source: Clarksons* --- #### Tag: [Market update](https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/en/market-report-monthly/tag/market-update) #### Share: - [Follow us on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/en/market-report-monthly/modest-march-activity-but-rates-remain-healthy) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/en/market-report-monthly/modest-march-activity-but-rates-remain-healthy&text=Modest%20March%20activity,%20but%20rates%20remain%20healthy) - [Follow us on Linkedin](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/en/market-report-monthly/modest-march-activity-but-rates-remain-healthy) - [Follow us on Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/en/market-report-monthly/modest-march-activity-but-rates-remain-healthy&text=Modest%20March%20activity,%20but%20rates%20remain%20healthydescription=Chinese%20car%20sales%20surge%20as%20U.S.%20tariffs%20loom%20Unlike%20the%20more%20dynamic%20movements%20seen%20in%20the%20oil%20and%20LPG%20markets,%20the%20PCTC%20segment%20remained%20relatively%20calm[...]&media=https://143789414.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/143789414/M4_article_3.jpg) --- #### [U.S. sanctions lead to massive rate hikes in January Previous Post](https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/en/market-report-monthly/les-sanctions-am%C3%A9ricaines-ont-entra%C3%AEn%C3%A9-une-hausse-massive-des-taux-en-janvier?hsLang=en) #### [LPG market rebounds firmly after slow start Next Post](https://blog.maritimefinance.ch/en/market-report-monthly/lpg-market-rebounds-firmly-after-slow-start?hsLang=en) --- ## Related Posts It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. 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