Capesize (Atlantic and Pacific)
Although Far Eastern holidays Capesize market recorded an active week. Owners accepted lower rates for prompt date cargoes. Iron ore cargoes from West Australia to China have been fixed in the low/mid $7 pmt while cargoes on the standard route from Tubarao to Qingdao have been agreed in the high $17 pmt for mid-October dates. In the middle of the week, market found support and push back up again in both basins. In the Pacific Ocean, timecharter rates improved approaching $20,000/d for Pacific round voyage; while stems out of Brazil were fixed up to $18.60 pmt basis end October loading. In the Atlantic basin, sentiment turned on to be positive again and ships were reported fixed for fronthaul in the very high $20s pmt. Confidence was spread also beyond spot dates with some activity also for the short period in the region of the mid/high teens for prompt delivery in China.
Panamax (Atlantic and Pacific)
Despite Chinese and Koreans holidays, market unexpectedly recorded a strong week with number of cargoes increased both in the Atlantic and in the Pacific basin, supported also by the paper market. At beginning of week, Panamax market started flat with few fixtures concluded reflecting the assumption that the week would be quiet. In the middle of the week, sentiment began to change with much business concluded at higher prices: Kamsarmax rates for TransAtlantic rounds were closer to the mid $11,000s daily, while trips from NW Europe via the USEC to the East with coal have been fixed around the low $19,000s daily; in the USG, grain cargo for early November dates went at $42.0/mt up about $1.50/mt from last week. The B Sea showed a lot of fixtures for both fronthaul and short grain trips within the Atlantic: for trips to the East rates reached around $20,000/d. Owners in the ECS American grains market obtained retroactive delivery as the market was in their favour. Pacific market improved as well in all areas with rates firming considerably for NoPac cargoes. Bit lower in the south: tonnage fixed at $14,000/d and above for Round Voyages, returning levels to seen in mid-September. Period activity was also good with a 2013 Kamsarmax agreeing $12,750/d for 4/6 months with more fixtures concluded in the end of week at little higher rates.
Handy (Far East/Pacific)
The market in this area showed a slightly softening trend during last week compared with the previous one. On the usual trade from Indoa to India, Supramaxes lost around $2,500/d dropping from $14,000/14,500/d agreed basis dop S China to $11,500/12,000/d fixed basis dely Spore. A Tess 52 carrying clinker to Bangladesh has been reported fixed at $12,000/d basis delivery Ko Si Chang. Handysizes in the Pacific basin have showed quite stable rates with not so many rumours around, and only a nice 34,000 dwt heard to fix $9,000/d dely CJK for NoPAc RV basis redelivery Spore/Japan range confirming how this type of vessels have still good activity in this area.
Handy (North Europe/Mediterranean)
Handy/Supra market in the Cont recorded a quite positive week with signals of good activity in the area. Even if not so many fixtures have been reported, a modern 35,000 dwt was rumored to have been fixed basis dely Cont at $14,000/d for a long trip to F East with a clean cargo. Ultrabulk was rumored to have fixed another 35,000 dwt bss dely Cont at $9,000/d for a trip via the Baltic to Spain with grains. A Supramax carrying steel has been evaluated for a trip from the Cont to the USG around $7,000/7,500/d, while another similar vessel agreed $11,000/12,000/d bss dely Cont for a trip to the Med. Handysize market in the Med/B Sea, notwithstanding continued to show a good activity for the inter-Med business, softened a bit. A 33,000 dwt was fixed for a trip with steels to the East Med basis delivery the B Sea at $10,500/11,000/d, while a 37,000 dwt carrying grains was agreed basis delivery Eregli (Turkey) and redelivery into the Italian Adriatic Sea for a trip via the B Sea at $9,750/d. Supramax and Handymax were reported to have fixed decent rates for trip to the MEG/F East range; a 45,000 dwt fixed a trip to EC India at $16,000/d basis delivery the E Med and basis minimum duration of 60 days.
Handy (USA/N.Atlantic/Lakes/S.America)
The spot market in the USG dropped considerably during last week and also rates for the first half of October decreased by $1,000/2,000/d ex the USG. Due to lack of demand and an increase in coal and petcoke prices, Supramax rates from the USG lost some ground dropping to $14,000/d for trades to the Med, to $20,000/d unloading in the F East and to $21,000/d for discharge in India. Notwithstanding the negative trend recorded in the market, owners remained pretty confident for a recover of the market between the 2nd half of October and the end of November. The Baltic FFA showed a sharp increase since last Tuesday and an increase also in the physical market is expected shortly. ECSA market showed an active week with charterers fixing Ultramaxes in the end of the week around $17,000/17,500/d basis aps ECSA for TCT with grains redelivery Med intention the W Med. A Handymax carrying grains has been reported done at $14,500/d basis delivery ECSA for a trip to the Med. Handysize activity in the area was good too with a 33,000 dwt fixed $13,000/d for trip with redely USG, while a 33,000 dwt basis delivery dop W Africa fixed a similar rate for a trip via N Brazil basis redelivery Continent.
Handy (Indian Ocean/South Africa)
These waters recorded a softening week with charterers rating Supras and Ultras around $6,000/7,000/d bss aps S Africa for a TCT to the Cont/Med range. A Supramax fixed 50,000 +/- 10% of coal from Richards Bay to Karachi at $14.0/mt bss scale load and 12,000 shinc discharging rate, while a 56,000 dwt carrying coal rumoured to have fixed $12,000/d + $200,000 bb bss redely MEG/WC India range for a duration of 25 days WOG. Indian Ocean Market for Supras was quite active showing a large Supra fixing $10,500/d bss dely EC India for a TCT to the F East with minerals, while another similar vessel has been fixed at $13,000/d bss dely MEG for a trip to India.
Banchero Costa and Co Spa
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