Capesize (Atlantic and Pacific)
The Capesize market was less active with few cargoes quoted in the Atlantic. Iron ore cargoes from Brazil to China have been fixed from the low $30s down to about $29.50/29.75 with loading end of December or very beginning of January. The Pacific market has been very complicated with Australian iron ore traders paying extremely high rates. Highest fixtures were done went from $14/14.25 up to $17.20 for spot loading, while beginning of January loading dates have been concluded between $12.50 and 13.50 level.
Panamax (Atlantic and Pacific)
Since Christmas is coming more owners in the Atlantic were willing to do 2 laden legs TransAtlantic round, rather than one single trip, to cover the holiday. Charterers were willing to pay $15,500 to $16,500 daily level. The number of cargoes ex USG increased and charterers were rushing to cover them before the Christmas. Rates for fronthaul were firm, being talked at about $26,000 daily plus $600,000 ballast bonus and some owners were talking higher. The Pacific side was stable. Vessel in Japan position can secure $11,500 to $12,000 daily level for Nopac round while candidates in S.China were talked at very low $10,000 daily due to the lack of cargoes. Some charterers were still looking for vessels in the Far East to cover their USG/Feast round. Short period business was talked at low $12,000 daily.
Handy (Far East/Pacific)
Although the market improved a little compared to the previous week most of the business was still concluded at very low rate. Owners refused to fix below the running costs, most of them decided to wait and hold rather than going cheaper at $5-6,000 per day. Some higher rates were concluded from Indonesia to India. For period business Dolphin 57 types have been fixed in the region of $8,500 for 3-5 or 4-6 mos. Modern Supramaxes got the level of $4,300 bss dop Cjk for trip to India or at around $8,000 + 110,000bb for the same run to India bss aps Indonesia.
Handy (North Europe/Mediterranean)
There was less cargo coming out of the Black Sea compared to the previous weeks. From the Continent, there was still some fertilizer business to the Feast or India, scrap business to the Med and steel to the USG. Generally the concluded rates went down a little. Some requirement for ice classed ships was seen, which should be able to pay a decent premium.
Handy (USA/N.Atlantic/Lakes/S.America)
Although the number of fixtures was decent, the South American market still decreased. Smaller sizes were definitely more active than Supras and got better revenues. There have been fewer fixtures out of the USG and the rates also went down slightly. A couple of fixtures to the Med were agreed at less than $25,000 per day and trip to the Feast was fixed below $30,000. It seemed that most of the people just want to end the year by fixing the last open positions and they were definitely looking forward to January. Few cargoes have already been booked, so more activity will probably arise after the Christmas Holiday.
Handy (Indian Ocean/South Africa)
Few fixtures were reported out of EC India for trip with iron ore to China. Most of the business was concluded at around $7/8,000 level. Only one fixture was reported on a Supramax bss dop WC India to China with iron ore at around $10,000 diot. The South Africa market was also poor and many ships started to ballast towards South America.
Banchero Costa and Co Spa
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