HONG KONG—Neptune Orient Lines Ltd., Southeast Asia’s largest container-shipping company, gained the most in three months in Singapore trading as falling oil prices and a rise in US durable-goods orders spurred optimism about earnings.

Neptune Orient advanced as much as 6 percent to S$3.92 and traded at $3.90 as of the noon trading session Thursday in Hong Kong. China Cosco Holdings Co., the country’s biggest container line and the operator of the world’s largest fleet of dry-bulk ships, rose as much as 5.3 percent.

US orders for goods made to last several years, excluding transportation equipment, unexpectedly rose in April, increasing optimism about continued demand for imports and container shipments in the world’s biggest economy. Marine fuel prices also fell for the third day in a row in Singapore, in line with easing oil prices, reducing costs for shipping companies.

“Shipping lines’ shares are always affected by oil prices,” Edward Wong, a Quam Ltd. analyst, said in Hong Kong. “Oil has been rising crazily.”

Fuel is likely to account for about 30 percent of Asian container-shipping lines’ operating costs this year, Wong said. Crude-oil prices Wednesday dropped to as low as $125.96 in New York as prices around $130 a barrel may hurt demand from US and Asia.

US durable-goods orders rose 2.5 percent in April, the most since July, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. Economists had estimated a 0.5-percent decline.

Pacific Basin Shipping Ltd., Hong Kong’s largest operator of iron ore and coal vessels, climbed 4.4 percent to HK$12.76. Korea Line Corp., South Korea’s second-biggest bulk-shipping line, rose 4.7 percent to 201,000 won at 1:19 p.m. in Seoul trading Thursday.

“The outlook for dry-bulk ships is pretty good this year on the strong demand from China and India,” said Stella Kei, an analyst at UOB Kay Hian Ltd. Global demand for iron ore will increase 10 percent in 2008, from a year earlier, Kei said. (Bloomberg)

Dutch government paves way for donations to Marina

THE Dutch government has paved the way for the donation of computers and Internet connectivity for shipping regulator Maritime Industry Authority, also known as Marina, as well as the possible revamp of the agency’s web site, which has been offline since last year.

CLARK FREE PORT, Pampanga—The country’s aviation industry, particularly at the 2,200-hectare civil-aviation complex here, will get a much-needed boost after an Italian defense contractor and a Filipino aviation firm signed an agreement for the manufacture of training aircraft here.

BONN AND NEW YORK—United Parcel Service Inc., the world’s largest package-delivery company, said it expects as much as $1 billion a year in new revenue as it takes over US air shipments for Deutsche Post AG’s unprofitable DHL unit.

HONG KONG—Neptune Orient Lines Ltd., Southeast Asia’s largest container-shipping company, gained the most in three months in Singapore trading as falling oil prices and a rise in US durable-goods orders spurred optimism about earnings.