Finland's ESL Shipping is busy laying up vessels and handing back chartered ships as it comes to terms with a big slump in bulker cargo demand.

Volumes decreased "exceptionally steeply" to 3m tonnes in the second quarter, from 4.1m tonnes a year ago, it said.

Operating profit was cut to €0.6m ($0.71m) from €2.6m a year ago, as revenue plunged to €32.9m