Already troubled waters in the dry bulk shipping industry are expected to get rougher in 2016, a survey suggests.

AlixPartners' study has found that earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of major bulker owners have collapsed from $169m to minus $115m.

The shipping analyst wrote in its June report: “Demand and supply remain woefully unbalanced, which sent pricing to historical lows in February 2016 before rebounding.

“After