Capesize (Atlantic and Pacific)
It was a very volatile week. Atlantic cargoes from Brazil drove rates up. The highest level heard was $24.50 from Tubarao to China. As the week was coming to the end some owners wanted to fix their tonnage and agreed to discount a bit from peak levels. Pacific was quite busy as well with several fixtures reported over $11 for West Australia/China voyage. Holiday in Singapore did not help to boost activity on Friday, but it was noticed positive expectation for the coming week. Period activity was buoyant especially for long period: 10/15 months were fixed in the mid $14,000 but with Ecospeed guaranteed, while 10/13 months fixed in the high $13,000 both for prompt delivery.
Panamax (Atlantic and Pacific)
The Atlantic market was under pressure and kept sliding down during the whole last week. Cargoes for Atlantic trips were rather limited and rates were talked in the $5,000/d region or similar level with aps delivery basis. Also grain business from USG to Far East was softer with some fixtures done at $15,000/d+$500,000 bb levels. From the Pacific basin some good rates were seen for a limited amount of spot candidates in South China thanks to the amount of stems on the Indonesia round. Nothing else was positive. Modern tonnage i South Korea got fixed at $6,500/d for NoPac business and $7,000/d for 4/8 months.
Handy (Far East/Pacific)
Despite the Supramax market in these waters was still active, two Supramaxes were reported for short period at only $8,500/d while another bigger unit was fixed at a more encouraging $9,850/d for 4/7 months. After some time a North Pacific round voyage was reported again with a large, eco 58,000 dwt getting only $8,500/d + $325,000 bb basis aps delivery. As usual top rates were agreed on the Indonesia/India coal trade where large Supras available in the area were reported up to $12,000/d. Backhaul business improved with a 58,000 tonner fixed at $5,000/d basis delivery N. China via Cape of Good Hope and redelivery Continent. Proportionally better was the fixture of a fancy 28,000 dwt delivery Vietnam to, unattractive, Brazil at $6,000/d for the first 60 days and $7,500 for the rest of the voyage.
Handy (North Europe/Mediterranean)
A little more chartering interest was seen fot tonnage loading grains Ex BSea to N. Africa destinations. Rates agreed, even if not exciting, were probably the best achievable from the area especially considering the redelivery not far from loading areas and that a Supramax from Bsea was rumored in the low $10,000 to perform a trip to the East. Less activity from the Continent, limited to some scrap to East Med, on this trade lane the MV Nikos N, 54,000 tonner was said to have been fixed on voyage basis a cargo of 40/43,000 ts of scrap at $17.25/ton.
Handy (USA/N.Atlantic/Lakes/S.America)
Steady activity for Supramax single trips out of USG where it is rumored that vessels reported got lower rates than the larger amount of tonnage fixed and kept private. The market seems to have firmed up towards the end of the week especially on the TransAtlantic trade where a large Supra was said to be booked at$12,000/d for a trip with coal from NCSA to Turkey. From South America smaller units were getting the best rates for European destinations. Positional reasons were likely behind a a strong $19,500/d agreed on a 58,000 tonner from S. Brazil.
Handy (Indian Ocean/South Africa)
The coming holidays in Muslim countries starting Thursday drove chartering activity ex Persian Gulf/Red Sea into quietness and allowed charterers linked to Iron Ore India/China trade to book tonnage at rates about $1,000/d below the rates agreed previous week for loading out of East Coast and even more from West Coast.
Banchero Costa and Co Spa
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