Capesize (Atlantic and Pacific)
The Capesize market was extremely flat. In the Pacific vessels were constantly fixing $7.90 for West Australia to China, while Richards Bay to China business was reported fixed at $15. Little business was seen out of the Atlantic. The fronthaul improved a bit reaching once $20.90 while for round rates were largely stable in the low $9. The period market was still quite active with several vessels went for 4-7 months in the low $12,000.
Panamax (Atlantic and Pacific)
The Atlantic market was still very slow with Trans-Atlantic business particularly low. Most charterers preferred to secure a candidate on aps del bss with rate being talked at $8,000 daily plus 150k bb to 200k bb. The fronthaul ex ECSA was fed by enough cargo and kept stable. The market level was talked at about $14,000 daily plus $400,000bb. The Pacific side turned slightly positive during last week. The market was supported by fresh cargo from Nopac, Indonesia and Australia. Good LME in Japan could secure $9,000 daily or even more for the Nopac or Aussie business and charterers were willing to pay LME in S.China $8,000-$9,000 daily level for Indonesia cargo. Short period went up slightly influenced by the spot market with good LME talked at $10,000 daily for 4/6mos.
Handy (Far East/Pacific)
The market was very active due to the end of the rain season in Indonesia and there was a constant flow of fresh Supramax requirements. That firmed up the TC trip rates even further, both for redelivery China and India business. Larger Handies were easily getting paid at mid teens basis Singapore delivery and $8,500 to $9,500 daily level were paid to similar tonnage delivering at EC India and China ranges. Strangely the above trend hasn't yet managed to improve rates for Australia and North Pacific rounds. Short period interest was still going on with rates varying between $10,500 and $11,500 daily depending on actual duration and vessel types. Smaller Handies enjoyed even more on the market improvement, they were fixed at the same rates paid for the larger ones and even higher money for Australia round voyage.
Handy (North Europe/Mediterranean)
While very low money was still reported agreed for a 55,000 tonner booked for a backhaul business from Northern Europe to the U.S. Atlantic, a 45,000 tonner over 15 years age was rumored to get over $4,000 daily for a trip from the Eastern Med into the USG; the fixture even represented some improvement from last dones, the higher rate agreed may be connected with the ongoing negative trend persisting in the USG/NCSA regions which made the backhaul leg less attractive. There were a little more Supramax enquiries available for loading Black Sea. Fresh enquiries were splitted between trips to Northern Red Sea (NO G.O.A. trading, allowed charterers to catch tonnage in the $6,000 level basis delivery Canakkale/redely Port Said) and business to Indian Ocean / Far East (crossing the piracy area mostly booked under short period agreement) at better rates. That also resulted into a saving for charterers, who would have had to agree larger rates for the single trip-out. That saving should still allow them to trade vessel positively in connection with the improved market in the Far East.
Handy (USA/N.Atlantic/Lakes/S.America)
Supramax tonnage fixed at daily rates below $20,000 for USG/Far East trips confirmed that there was still no market recovery from this area. The Trans-Atlantic business for similar sizes kept fixing below $10,000 daily and Handies were said to be suffering even further. The smaller Handies instead kept getting some premiums for the Trans-Atlantic employments loading ex South America. Rates agreed were similar, if not higher, compared to Supramaxes who showed a bit of improvements for fronthaul business.
Handy (Indian Ocean/South Africa)
Demand decreased sharply with almost no reports of fixtures. Charterers fixed slightly better rates for Eastbound directions and they were more inclined to take tonnage for short period and take advantage from the combination of the lower daily rate and the expectation about the Pacific market to improve further. Larger tonnage open EC India benefitted from SE Asia loading enquiries even by fixing on D.O.P. basis.
Banchero Costa and Co Spa
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