Outlook for five New York-listed drybulk players has been lowered as a dark cloud appears to be forming over the Land of the Red Dragon.

"Perception has become reality," Evercore ISI analyst Jon Chappell wrote today in a note to clients.

"As is often the case, the perception of ill effects from a potential trade war and slowing Chinese economy appears to be more of a reality, as ever-softening China economic data present an element of demand risk that threatens to alter the delicate fleet utilisation balance."