Weekly Bulk Report – Week 20, 2019

By
Mfame Team
-
1123

 

The Baltic Briefing has released Bulk carrier maritime activity report for the 20th week of this year. The report formulated on 17th May 2019 highlights the situation in the bulk carrier market including trading activities, freight rates, and charter rates.

Capesize

  • The market continues to ebb and flows with a generally positive uptrend.
  • The Capesize 5TC opened with upward momentum from last week’s $11,621 and nudged to over $12,000.
  • It then dropped to $11,705, however, by the close it rallied to $11,909.
  • West Australia to China ore run followed a similar pattern from high $6.00s, before losing 50 cents, ending the week marked around $6.50.
  • The Brazilian miner, Vale, advised prosecutors that another dam in the State of Minas Gerais is at risk of rupturing within the following week.
  • This prediction was based on current movements at the dam. The mine hasn’t been active since 2016, as such, iron ore market flows would not be expected to be affected.
  • Vale has raised its level of alert for the surrounding area. While getting ahead of possible incidents with warnings and evacuations is good to hear, the market is now questioning when these dam sagas will end and business, as usual, can be resumed.

Panamax

  • A busy start to last week saw the Baltic Panamax Index (BPI) 4TC average rise steadily to over $10,000 from around $9,500 at the end of the preceding week.
  • South America was again the main focus, with modern Kamsarmaxes now traded in excess of $16,000, plus $600,000 ballast bonus.
  • Most of the reported trades had been concluded on a Dropping Outward Pilot station (DOP) basis, or, passing Singapore. A particularly well-described unit achieved a high of $15,000 for the round voyage.
  • The North Atlantic was said to be well balanced, with slight increases in transatlantic trades in line with the improved front haul rates.
  • The Pacific market was helped greatly by South American activity, combined with a preference for trips into India. This meant rates for trades within the area jumped midweek.
  • A lack of fresh inquiry at the end of the week had much pointed towards a correction. Nonetheless, period discussions had increased.

Supramax

  • The Baltic Supramax Index (BSI) started the week in upward mode but petered out as the week closed.
  • Limited fresh period activity surfaced, but a 52,000dwt vessel, open US Gulf, was rumored fixed for four to six months trading, with redelivery Arabian Gulf-Japan in the $12,000s.
  • The Atlantic saw better levels from some key areas including the US Gulf. A well described 60,000dwt ship fixing around $19,000 from here with redelivery in Japan.
  • As the week continued, the pressure was surfacing from East Coast South America, with a lack of prompt tonnage.
  • A 53,000-tonner fixed basis delivery Up River for front haul in the high $12,000s plus high $200,000 ballast bonus.
  • There was increased activity from the Indian Ocean, where a 63,000dwt ship fixed delivery South Africa and redelivery West Coast India at $13,400 plus $340,000 ballast bonus.
  • Further east, it was finely balanced, with a 56,000dwt open Panjang fixing at $10,500 for a trip via Indonesia, and redelivery China, at $10,500.

Handysize

  • Overall, it was a week of continuous improvement in the Handysize sector.
  • Rates started the week flat, with mixed feelings in the Atlantic basin, but the sentiment started to grow slightly more positive in the Continent-Mediterranean-Black Sea areas after the recent weeks of lower fixtures.
  • Brokers also noticed potential signs of tightening tonnage list from East Coast South America going into next week.
  • A 33,000-tonner open Recalada was booked for a trip to the Baltic at $8,750 early in the week.
  • A similar-sized ship was fixed for the same delivery to Morocco at $9,000 at a later stage.
  • On the Continent, a 38,000dwt box type was fixed from Brake to the US Gulf at $8,000.
  • Whilst in the east, large Handysize vessels were achieving in the region of $7,000s basis Singapore delivery for round trips with Asia redelivery.
  • It was rumored similar levels were being fixed for China-Japan delivery and redelivery Southeast Asia.

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Source: thebalticbriefing