DRY REPORT
Capesize
A positive mood for the coming days, with rates firming again as the week closed out. In Asia, the key C5 route, West Australia/China, peaked at $8.55, but then lost ground as a holiday in Europe unsettled the market and this combined with a then sluggish Brazil market.
Within 24 hours, rates dropped to $800 but then 24 hours later gained 40 cents, with an increased activity from the Australian miners and operators.
As rates rose, owners were increasingly trying for timecharter, with Australian rounds in the low $20,000 daily range.
Howerver, a long expected/hoped for ,but ultimately sudden, surge of activity from Vale mid-week onwards combined with other cargoes to see June rates hit $19.00.
There was also activity from South Africa, with rates also heading higher, reaching the upper $14.00s.
The North Atlantic saw more limited trading, but rates here too rose sharply mid-week, but then eased off with the Ascension Day holiday, before recovering with talk of a voyage cargo from Port Cartier to Rizhao fixing at $28.00, allegedly showing a timecharter equivalent of $36,000 to $37,000 daily.
Charterers continued to have an appetite for period business, with a one year old Newcastlemax fixed for 10 to 12 months, trading at $24,000 daily, and a 5-year old Newcastlemax, booked at $22,000 daily for 9 to 12 months, trading both with China delivery.
Panamax
Period fixing was again evident this week, with the paper market well supported, despite the BPI being slightly negative on a daily basis.
The mood was that the Pacific had bottomed out and was showing signs of improvement with increased demand, but this was off-set by the Atlantic, which was less impressive.
The paper market took its lead from the Pacific sentiment, although period rates are slightly lower compared to last month’s levels, with a new build Kamsarmax delivering ex-yard fixed for one option, one year, at $13,500 and $14,500 respectively.
Increased mineral demand from Indonesia and Australia added to ongoing NoPac activity, fuelling the improvement, but rate increases were slow and unspectacular.
European holidays disrupted Atlantic trading, and the North still appeared over supplied, with vessels agreeing less than last done.
EC South America remained active, but vessels still struggled to maintain previous levels, as many ballasters en route and Kamsrarmaxes now generally fixing around $14,500 plus $450,000 ballast bonus.
Supramax
A story of two halves this week, with routes from the Asian market at better levels than the Atlantic.
There was limited short period activity reported, with a 57,000-dwt fixed basis delivery Xiamen prompt for three to five months trading redelivery worldwide at $11,500, and a 53,000-dwt booked delivery Singapore for two to three laden legs at similar levels.
In the Atlantic, the market experienced a slow week, with widespread holidays across Europe. Key areas such as the US Gulf lost ground with very little demand, which put owners under pressure.
A 61,000-dwt was linked to a petcoke run from here to the East Mediterranean at around $14,750. EC South America also saw very little fresh enquiry, and with an oversupply of tonnage, rates remained easier.
A grain house was rumoured to have fixed a vessel basis delivery Fazendinha for a trip to the US Gulf, at under $10,000.
Elsewhere, a 62,000-dwt was fixed for a trip from the East Mediterranean, redelivery to US Gulf at $7,700.
As the week progressed trading increased in the East with both South Asia and North Asia seeing a fairly tight tonnage supply, and more enquiry coming into the market.
A 50,300-dwt open Nansha, was booked for a trip via Indonesia to China at $12,000. A 63,000-dwt was reported basis delivery Dalian, for a trip via NoPac, redelivery Chittagong, at $13,000.
However, activity in the Indian Ocean remained stagnant.
Handysize
With widespread holidays throughout the week, brokers reported an uneventful time lacking any real action or impetus.
Overall, routes in the Asian market performed better than the Atlantic, which saw lacklustre activity.
Opinions were divided over EC South America, and a 38,000-dwt was rumoured fixed at around $12,500 levels for a trip to Morocco but further details were not confirmed.
Elsewhere, a 43,900-dwt was fixed for a trip from Conakry redelivery Black Sea in the mid $8,000s. A 31,800-dwt was reported booked from East Mediterranean to Haiti with bagged cement at $10,000.
A touch more activity was seen from the US Gulf, with a 37,000-dwt fixed from here to WC Central America at $12,750.
A 38,000-dwt was also fixed from the US Gulf to Yuznhy at approximately $11,000, and another 38,000-dwt was booked from Vila Do Conde with alumina to the Baltic in the mid-high $11,000s.
Off the Continent, a 29,000-dwt was fixed basis delivery passing Skaw with scrap, via Denmark, redelivery East Mediterranean at $11,000.
From Asia, very little surfaced, despite improved numbers discussed with players keeping information close to their chests.
A 33,000-dwt fixed at $10,000 from North Asia to SE Asia, and a 33,000-dwt was fixed basis delivery Japan trip with steels to the Persian Gulf at $10,500.
The direction for the coming week remained unclear but players are hoping that activity will pick up next week when everyone has returned from ”mini breaks”.
TANKER REPORT
VLCC
Although rates in the Middle East Gulf for 270,000 tonnes to China firmed around 3.25 WS points to WS 43.25, the market has now come under renewed downward pressure and is assessed at close to WS 42.5 as owners struggle to maintain their TCE’S against increased bunker costs.
Going West, the market still sits at WS 18, Cape/Cape for 280,000 tonnes to US Gulf.
Exxon did fix Reliance tonnage at WS 17 for straight US Gulf, though this is an attractive positioning voyage for this owner. Options cargoes went at around WS 19.
West Africa/China gained one point to WS 43.5 before easing back to WS 42.5/43 basis 260,000 tonnes cargo.
Unipec fixed US Gulf to Singapore at $3.5 million, while Cosmo fixed US Gulf + EC Mexico/Japan at $4.75 million.
Caribs to Jamnagar was fixed at $3.3 million, while an Algeria/Yingkou run is said to have been covered at $4.3 million.
Suezmax
In West Africa, the market for 130,000 tonnes to UKCont still sits at WS 60, with Black Sea steady at WS 85 for 135,000 tonnes cargo, with Korea discharge fixed by Chevron at $2.75 million.
In the Mediterranean, Irving fixed 130,000 tonnes at WS 60 for Libya to Canaport, whilst closer to home, UML covered 135,000 tonnes from Ceyhan/UKC-Med at WS 75/77.5 respectively, while Saras agreed WS 85 for 130,000 tonnes from Libya to Sarroch.
Aframax
In the Baltic, rates for 100,000 tonnes have been steady at between WS 70/72.5.
While the 80,000 tonnes cross North Sea trade held at WS 92.5.
In the Mediterranean, an uneventful week saw the market steady in the mid WS 80s, though there was a deal done at WS 80 for Sidi Kerir/Italy, but this was on a ship with no sire.
Black Sea rates held at WS 85 before easing very modestly, as a larger quantity was fixed at equivalent of close to WS 83.5.
The 70,000 tonnes Caribbean/upcoast market was maintained at WS 100.
Panamax
Rates for 55,000 tonnes from ARA or Skikda to US Gulf were unchanged at WS 105 level.
Clean
The LR2 market for 75,000 tonnes, ME Gulf to Japan, firmed 2.5 points to WS 90, while LR1s were steady at WS 110 for 55,000 tonnes to Japan.
Healthy enquiry in the 37,000 tonnes Cont/USAC trade saw rates initially maintained at WS 140, before softening to WS 137.5. Rates in the 38,000 tonnes backhaul trade lost almost 16 points to around WS 91.5.
Did you subscribe for our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Business Times
