Capesize (Atlantic and Pacific)
A steady flat week closed with some good rates done in the Pacific for W. Australia/China where rates nudged arnd $7.50-7.80 made by Rio Tinto. TCT business remained steady in the Pacific with a bumping rate from $12,000/$13,000 daily done for the quick Indonesia to China. There was some intermittent activity in the Atlantic range where Vale entered into the market and took ships for FrontHaul business but details were not confirmed. Source said that the charterer took two ships from Tubarao to Qingdao at $20.40/mt with 2.5% address commission. Berge Atlas for 1-15 August was fixed at $20.50. There was also talk that the MOL Singapore relet the 2009-built 180,010-dwt Ariadne to Vale at $20.60 but some sources suggested that MOL Singapore vessel did in-house. Although period business was limited, rates touched the mid $13 for 4-7 months done by Clearlake which then in due time relet the ship to Cargill from San Nicolas to Qingdao at $18.50. The Camilla Bulker 179,362-dwt 2009-built open Lanshan 15-20 July fixed for 12-16 months trading. Some put the rate at $13,650 daily while others $14,000 daily, but the
charterer was not disclosed.
Panamax (Atlantic and Pacific)
The balance in the N. Atlantic was still in favour of the owners and during the week rates remained solid with even some room for further gains. Charterers looking for ships to load out of the US Gulf had to pay firmer numbers. Transatlantic rates hovered around $10,500 to $11,000 daily with considerably more two to three legs fixtures. South American grain cargoes slowed down with rates sliding at the start of the week, but more inquiry and an increase in the pace of fixing has seen rates recover for early August to the highs seen last week.
In the East, sentiment was more positive since owners were still able to fix dop and hold over rates. Rates for Indonesia rounds were hovering in the mid to high $6,000 daily range and similar story also happened in east coast Australia. The increased
activity in S. America and tight supply in the US Gulf again gave owners the option to ballast, with some fresh period business helping to stabilise the market.
Handy (Far East/Pacific)
In the Pacific activity during this week was supported by pretty firm rates earned from Supramax for Indo-EC India or China trip with coal or minerals. A Tess 58 opening in Surabaya was fixed at $15,000/d for trip to EC India, whereas some other Supramaxes basis 2/3 days from loading ports were fixed in the region of $11/12,500 daily for trip to India or China on p+c basis. For nickel ore business
just one fixture was reported: a 58,000 dwt fixed at $10,500/d for TCT via Indo to China, no big difference compared with Indo coal business. There was talk of period business fixed at $10,000 daily for 3-5 months trading yet ending without confirmation.
Handy (North Europe/Mediterranean)
Black sea/Continent market reported little fixture besides those on p+c basis. There were rumors that a European charterer fixed a 35,000 dwt loading Cont/discharging USG at $23/t basis, which if converted into TCE basis equals abt $4,500/d basis Gibraltar. No fixture was reported for trip with scrap from Cont. to Med., while still firm black sea market revealed a Tess 58 fixed at $14,250/d dely B.Sea for trip to China. For inter-Med business, rumors circulated that a Handysize dely black sea was fixed at arnd $4,500-5,000/d for TCT to central Med.
Handy (USA/N.Atlantic/Lakes/S.America)
USG/ECSAm market dropped a bit this week as it started in the Pacific basin with a nice 55,000 tonner fixing $20,000/d, which was far from previous week's $24,000/d aps USG for TCT to FarEast. As the week near its end there were still some small Supramaxes fixed for trip out of USG on $18,500 daily aps/dop basis. ECSAM market was firmer with a 56,000 dwt fixed at $14,500/d TCT dely W. Africa for via ECSA to PG redel PMO. Some fixtures were made on p+c bss aps ECSAm at arnd $20,000/d (daily rate + bb basis).
Handy (Indian Ocean/South Africa)
S.Africa/Indian ocean market was pretty steady during this week with some fixtures reported of limestone for beginning July at $8,500/d basis PG redel EC India. In the end of the week there was a little improvement with rumors that big Supramaxes were fixed at around $10,000/d TCT loading PG for EC India. S. Africa market was pretty quiet with just one fixture reported for TCT to Feast at $8,750/d + $280,000 bb.