Capesize (Atlantic and Pacific)
There was more activity especially in the Atlantic basin, however levels did not move much during last week. Fronthaul was fixed in the $18/ton; TransAtlantic round voyage remained in the $10,000/day. The sentiment turned positive from South Africa with Saldanha/Qingdao fixed in the mid $13/ton. In Pacific West Australia/China kept trading in the low $7/ton.
Panamax (Atlantic and Pacific)
Last week recorded some upward pressure in both basin in particular for prompt requirements. The imminent holidays brought more activity on all main routes. NoPac RV was fixed in the $7,000/d and TransAtlantic RV between $7/8,000 per day. Owners conceded some discounts in order to fix quick trips with good repositioning and for 2 legs Atlantic. Short legs were active as well with Indo RV in the $5,5/6,000 + 85/90,000 bb, Baltic RV ranging from as low as below the $6,000 up to $10,000 for Ice Classed Units. Kamsar remained active both for Cont (in the $10/ton) and USG (in the $5,000/d) basis dely aps. Fronthaul via USG was slightly less active, but still at $13,500/d from Continent. ECSA grains were active in both directions with most of the dely retro Singapore ($7,000/d) or passing Cape of Good Hope ($7,5/8,000 + 400,000 bb). Santos to China trade registered $35.25/ton. Also the Indian Ocean was pretty active with Richards Bay rounds in competition with ECSA both for India and FarEast with fixtures reported done at $6,500+350k postpanamx. Coal Imports via Aussie to India were arnd $14.50/ton and Indo/EC India were fixed at $5,000 + 70,000 bb. Some usec coal tenders to Turkish B. Sea were done at $13.75/ton.
Handy (Far East/Pacific)
Because of the forthcoming holidays in China a good number of fixtures were reported. This was mainly due to the on-going building up of prompt tonnage and not by an increasing market activity, that actually seemed instead to further lower. Most of the Supramax activity was still for business loading ex SE Asia for which tonnage was fixed at lower time-charter rates with smaller ballast bonuses, if agreed at all. A 56,000 tonner agreed $7,000 + $285,000 bb basis aps Australia for a trip to Japan. Some short period interest was there with an improved $8,800/d agreed for a 57,000 dwt "Chinese type"for 3/5 months, while it was rumoured another Supra booked at low 8,000 for 5/7 months, but no further details were available. Following previous week trend smaller Handies kept suffering the bad market with a fancy 33,000 tonner fixed for short period at $6,500/d basis redelivery Muscat/Japan range and a fancier logger type got $6,250/d aps Malayisia to carry logs into WC India.
Handy (North Europe/Mediterranean)
Chartering interest from this area was frightening quiet. No business was reported concluded since owners kept confidential the levels agreed. There were rumours of a Supra agreeing below $8,000 for a trip from Cont to Med. Approaching the end of the week a few fresh enquiries were circulated for loading out of Bsea, but no action was taken yet, while prompt tonnage kept ballasting out from this area.
Handy (USA/N.Atlantic/Lakes/S.America)
Reduced chartering interest from the US Gulf and more tonnage ballasting from Europe didn't affect rates, so far, which kept good for Supramax and Handymax, both for TransAtlantic and East bound business. A couple of short periods with delivery USG and redely worldwide were also agreed at reasonably good levels that still allowed charterers to do some speculation rather than paying up for a single trip only. South America activity was very slow, moreover tonnage piling up with ballasters from Europe and Indian Ocean put rates under further pressure. Owners ballasting from Middle East keep holding on rates with the sole result of allowing business to get fixed from tonnage already open in the area or getting there through a shorter ballast from Europe. No reports here available for smaller Handies which were said to maintain better levels compared to bigger units.
Handy (Indian Ocean/South Africa)
Rates in this region got worse and worse with a small amount of business to Far East from India, South africa and Persian Gulf. At first $4,750 agreed for a 48,000 tonner to perform iron ore from EC India may look quite bad, but it ends up being much better than the $5,000 daily agreed for a larger 52,000 tonner for a trip via South Africa to FarEast for which, besides the size difference, the duration of the voyage is almost the double and it ends up in the same area. Tonnage able to trade Iran still got paid much better rates to carry iron ore to China. On this trade a 44,000 tonner was fixed at almost double the rates agreed previously mentioned.
Banchero Costa and Co Spa
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