Capesize (Atlantic and Pacific)
Capesize market registered another negative week with rates slowly softening in all basins except on the route from W Australia to China. On this trade several vessels were fixed in the region of $3/3.10/mt for mid February dates. The standard route from Saldanha Bay to Qingdao showed a very quiet market with $4/mt agreed bss second half February dates. Few fixtures were reported for trades from Brazil to China in the region of $5.25/mt with no many cargoes there for second half February, whilst some voyages from Brazil with the standard route from Tubarao to Rotterdam done around $3/mt. Otherwise some activity registered for the route from the Mauritanian port of Nouadhibou to China agreeing $7.25/mt. In the Atlantic basin the usual lack of fresh requirements forced owners to fix their spot vessels at mid/low $3' bss Bolivar/Rotterdam or around $3,000/d for TransAtlantic RV. Regarding to the period activity, couple of capes were fixed for 11/14 months with dely ppt China at $5,250/d.
Panamax (Atlantic and Pacific)
Last week market has shown a little increase in the freight levels for vessels loading in ECS Am as was reported an 81,000 dwt fixed trip via ECS Am to Spore/Japan at $6,000/d + $120,000 bb a little margin of improvement compared to the low $5,000/d + $100,000 bb seen at the beginning of the week while levels seen for trip within Atlantic were close to low/mid $4,000/d for trip redely Skaw/Passero on a 75,000 dwt. In the USG levels have slightly decreased with a 79,000 dwt fixed tct via USG to F East at $6,750/d + $70,000 bb and an 81,000 dwt fixed dely passing Gibraltar via USG to F East at $5,300/d, owners with vessels ballasting from Gibraltar are also considering loading in ECS Am due to the low levels in USG. In continent a 79,000 unit was reported having fixed for trip via Baltic to F East at $7,950/d bss Rotterdam while in B Sea owners are looking at $6,000/d bss Canakkale for trip to F East via B Sea. In the F East levels remain on the low side and a nice Panamax was reported being fixed at $1,750/d bss Dalian for tct via EC Aus to India at $1,750/d while an 82,000 dwt fixed Indo business at $3,000/d bss aps Samarinda to Hong Kong with Cargill. NoPac round still showing a decreased in levels with an 82,000 dwt vessels fixing bss dely Ulsan via NoPac to China at $2,500/d.
Handy (Far East/Pacific)
Rates decreased further in the region. Some owners were heard to be taking into consideration laying-up some tonnage due to lack of employment and the extremely rates. $1,500/d was the rate agreed for a fancy 58,000 dwt delivering Singapore to perform a trip with coal via Indonesia to China. Other Supramaxes were heard to be committed on north Pacific rounds at $4,500-5,000/d basis aps delivery. A 57,000 dwt taking coal from Indonesia to India was reported done at $3,000/d. A nice 58,000 dwt delivering central China was fixed at $3,400/d worldwide redelivery.
Handy (North Europe/Mediterranean)
A further reduction in chartering interest in the region meant spot rates fell again last week. No concluded deals were reported basis loading ex Black Sea from where trade was limited to some grain stems for discharge to North Africa and Red Sea ports, plus a very small amount of steel moving to the U.S. Each fixture is said to be concluded below the previous one. Some fertilizer trade from Morocco to the Far East, with a 50,000 dwt fixed at $5,000/d basis delivery Gibraltar and a larger vessel done at $5,900/d basis delivery nearby. Rates from north Europe to east Med showed a 55,000 dwt fixed at a low $4,250/d.
Handy (USA/N.Atlantic/Lakes/S.America)
The already low rates for Supramaxes loading out of the USG failed to resist further falls, with the latest fixtures concluded at lower rates. Supramaxes fixing basis delivery in this area were mostly 57,000 dwt unfancy ‘sdari types and achieved around $6,000/d to west Med and around $8,000/d to west coast South America. Comparatively from Atlantic South America, rates were said to have fallen less, even if there was only one reported fixture - a 57,000 dwt 'sdari type agreed at $7,250/d plus $72,500 bb aps Santos for a trip to west coast India.
Handy (Indian Ocean/South Africa)
Chartering activity from the Middle East remained frozen. There was only one fixture reported - a 53,500 dwt delivering Middle East Gulf at $3,750/d for a short trip to west coast India. It was worrying to see tonnage still piling up in the area despite it being so quiet.
Banchero Costa and Co Spa
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