Capesize (Atlantic and Pacific)
It was quite an uneventful week with prevailingly negative sentiment in Pacific and flat market in Atlantic. From West Australia rates were stable in the low $7 while South African cargoes paid mid-$13 and mid-$12 from Saldanha and Richards Bay to Qingdao respectively. The Atlantic market remained slow: fronthaul from Brazil to China is still not moving from low/mid-$17 region and
$5,000/d was the level largely agreed for a round trip via Colombia redelivery Continent.
Panamax (Atlantic and Pacific)
The market remained firm in both basins, with the grain via ECSAm to FarEast still leading trades. In Atlantic, owners were able to secure $10,000/d or more for round voyages. Even if it seems the tonnage list for the beginning of April is rising, prompt market is still positive and strong. The Pacific market was still positive with improved activity. On the spot market higher freight rates were agreed also for short rounds; however most of the owners preferred longer rounds which paid even higher rates or tried to secure longer employments on period business.
Handy (Far East/Pacific)
Strong demand throughout last week brought improvements to the Supramax and Handysize markets. Most of the activity was still for Supramax cargoes, coal and nickel ore, from Indonesia. Larger units were fixed at $11,000/d with delivery N. China and redelivery India, similar units got higher rates the closer they were delivered to the loading area. Australia around trips were talked in the low $9,000/d and NoPac rounds at mid $9,000/d. Short period was active, with rates around $9,5/9,800/d. There was also more interest for Handies, with a 37,000 tonner fixed for short period at $8,500/d and a slight smaller unit fixed at $8,500/d plus $300,000 ballast bonus basis dely Australia for a trip to PG-India range. Two units of 28,000 dwt agreed 2/3 laden legs employment within the Pacific, at $7,250/d basis delivery N. China and $8,150/d basis delivery Spore.
Handy (North Europe/Mediterranean)
Fresh Supramax cargoes of iron ore from Morocco to FarEast ended into a nice 55,000 tonner fixed at $14,000/d basis dely Egypt Med to China. Two other similar cargoes to India and China are still under negotiations: charterers have to compete with rates for loading S. America since in this area tonnage is lacking and Med candidates are finding employment there. A 50,000 tonner was fixed at a nice $13,000/d to perform Cont to FarEast basis dely S. Spain via CGH. A nice 35,500 dwt fixed $8,750/d for short period with delivery Algeria, similar to what she would have got for the same employment with delivery in Spore/Jpn range.
Handy (USA/N.Atlantic/Lakes/S.America)
Out of Atlantic Americas the market carried on at full steam. Most of the enquiries were focused on cargoes loading north and south Brazil. A 53,000 dwt agreed $22,000/d to load coals from NCSAm to E. Med. A 58,000 dwt delivery Brazil got $15,000/d plus $500,000 bb for a trip Spore/Jpn range. Demand for loading minerals from W. Africa to China on which trade a Supramax was fixed at $19,000/d is taking tonnage away from the market. Tonnage open in the east Atlantic is now able to get dop delivery at nice rates: a 56,700 dwt agreed $11,750/d basis dely E. Med via NCSAm with redelivery FarEast. And another one agreed $11,500/d basis dely Turkish Med via Brazil to Spore/Jpn. Few news available out of USG where a 28,000 tonner was booked for short period with dely EC Mexico at $10,500/d.
Handy (Indian Ocean/South Africa)
Reports of concluded fixtures were missing, however the market is firmer. Supramax tonnage either fixed trips from Iran to FarEast, or local employments with minerals, fertilizers and grains between India and PG, mostly out of piracy area, at rates $1or2/mt higher than the previous week. Several charterers involved with other/awkward trades struggled to get any market reaction. Similar trend for smaller Handies, with a scarce amount of tonnage available, charterers with rice stems out of Pakistan and India were in troubles.
Banchero Costa and Co Spa
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