TANKER REPORT
VLCC
Weather delays in the East and increased cargo avails pushed up rates six points to peak at WS 58.5 to China, and WS 55.5 was agreed for South Korea, all basis 270,000mt. There is now a softer sentiment, with talk of KPC reportedly fixing at WS 55.5 to China.
In the West, rates remained around WS 24 Cape to Cape. West Africa to China rates have benefitted from the stronger MEG, with the market peaking at WS 58.5, before Unipec fixed at WS 57.5, basis 260,000mt.
In the Caribbean, Reliance fixed at $3.5 million for Jose to WC India, while Occidental paid $3.8 million for USG to Singapore. In the North Sea, ST are said to have fixed ship-to-ship Southwold to Singapore at $3.7 million, while Rotterdam to Singapore was fixed and failed at $3.15 million.
Suezmax
Rates for 135,000mt from the Black Sea held at around WS 85, basis Mediterranean discharge. A WC India cargo fixed at $1.9 million and South Korea went at $2.9 million.
In the Mediterranean, Repsol took Gungen tonnage for 140,000mt from Sidi Kerir to Spain at WS 71, while Petrogal fixed Delta tonnage for 130,000mt from Sidi Keir to Portugal at WS 75.
Mercuria agreed $2.85 million for Es Sider to Ningbo. West Africa rates came under pressure and the market for 130,000mt is presently hovering around WS 62.5/65.
Aframax
Another volatile week in the 80,000mt Mediterranean market saw rates vary between WS 115/120 level from Ceyhan to Sidi Kerir, with Libya paying a premium of around 10 points. A peak of WS 135 was paid by Repsol for Bouri load. Black Sea to the Mediterranean was fixed at WS 120.
In the Baltic, rates for 100,000mt remained steady in the low to mid WS 80s, with the 80,000mt cross-North Sea market now sitting at around WS 110. Caribbean and EC Mexico to upcoast rates jumped around 40 points to close at WS 135, basis 75,000mt.
Panamax
ARA to USG for 55,000mt is currently assessed around WS 112.5/115, with Skikda load fixed at WS 117.5.
Clean
MEG to Japan for 75,000mt remained steady at WS 95/97.5 level; the same story for LR1’s at around WS 100.
With excess tonnage building, Continent to USAC fell over 10 points to WS 107.5/110 region for 37,000mt. In contrast, the rates for 38,000mt backhaul gained a further five points to sit now at around WS 95, with talk of Torm tonnage fixing an options cargo with UKC rate at WS 100.
DRY BULK REPORT
Capesize
The Singapore holiday mid-week disrupted trading and unsettled the market, with owners losing some resilience. The market took on a late summer feel with a nearby over supply of tonnage, but many considered the ground lost would be regained. As the week closed the West Australia to China rate dropped to $9.30 from Dampier to Qingdao for 9-11 September but there were those suggesting a floor had been reached. Essentially rates were still at good numbers, with a 2001-built 172,500dwt open Fangcheng, 29-31 August, fixing for Australia at around $24,000 daily.
Rates eased for cargoes from Saldanha to Qingdao with owners offering rates in the high $17.00s for 18-20 September cargoes. The Brazil to China route came under pressure with most of the major players absent from the market and rates now allegedly at little more than the mid $22.00s, shedding around $2.00 from the previous week.
Vessels in ballast continued to head to Brazil, but some sources said the operators of some had cargo in hand and the list numbers available were shrinking. The North Atlantic remained very short of cargo, particularly for Trans-Atlantic rounds, with some putting the Puerto Bolivar to Rotterdam run to low $11.00. The highlight of the week remained an eco 179,000dwt, 2012-built, fixing from Yuzhny to China (three ports discharge) at $59,000 daily. Fronthaul trading has been scarce, although K-Line secured a POSCO tender to move a 150,000dwt, 10% cargo, from Port Cartier to Kwangyang at $27.23, with K-Line using in-house tonnage.
Panamax
In contrast, the Singapore holiday had very little impact on Panamax to Kamsarmax trading in a very busy week, with rates improving across the board. The North Atlantic mineral trades remained very active, particularly for coal cargoes from northern Europe to the Baltic, with tonnage tight and rates firming.
A well-described 84,800dwt, 2016-built, achieved $18,500 daily from Immingham, prompt for a trip via the Baltic with Skaw-Gibraltar redelivery. The standard Trans-Atlantic rounds were less buoyant with cargoes available fewer as the week progressed. Several ships were taken on a two-laden legged basis, but the durations were not always disclosed, with rates hovering around the upper $15,000s to low $16,000s. Fronthaul included a 2017-built, 82,000dwt, fixing from Lulea for a trip via the Baltic to India, with coal via the Suez at a still hefty $30,000 daily. South America remained active this week with a clear out of cargo and ships for first half of September, with some now taking a watch and wait view. A 2012-built Kamsarmax allegedly went at $16,000 daily plus a $600,000 bonus from EC South America to the East, with several ships this week reported on a drop basis from India or SE Asia.
In the East the market firmed, particularly for SE Asia with buoyant coal demand from Australia and Indonesia, helped too by South American demand absorbing tonnage. A 75,000dwt open Taiwan allegedly went over $11,000 for an Indonesia round. The pace appeared to have slowed for NoPac cargoes, but a 2013-built, Kamsarmax reportedly fixed at $14,000 daily from Zhoushan for a NoPac round journey with a grain house.
Supramax
Increased trading was evident towards the end of the week once Singapore returned to the market Thursday after the holiday. The EC South America and Black Sea remained steady, whilst the USG appeared to be edging down, especially for prompt tonnage.
In the East, more Indonesian coal cargoes with end of August cancelling circulated in the market and the remaining limited tonnage helped push rates higher. Moving closer to the fourth quarter, more period fixtures were reported from both basins. A 61,000dwt open in the East Mediterranean was booked for five to seven months at $15,000 for redelivery in the Atlantic, with additional $400,000 ballast bonus, with redelivery in the Far East. Another similar-sized delivery in the same area was booked for four to six months at $14,500 for Atlantic redelivery. Two 63,000dwt open Dalian and CJK were fixed for four to seven months at $12,800 and $13,300 respectively, both for redelivery worldwide.
From the USG, rates achieved $25,000 on a Dolphin 57-type for a trip to India for moving pet-coke. Later in the week, an Ultramax was put on subjects at $22,000 from SW Pass for a Trans-Atlantic grain trip in early September. A 63,000dwt open Liverpool was booked for a trip with met-coke via Poland to Algeria at $15,000. Another similar-sized was fixed, basis Canakkale delivery via the Black Sea to the Far East at $23,000. In the Pacific, a coal trip via Indonesia paid $13,500 on a 56,000dwt to WC India, and $11,000 on a 47,000dwt to China – both basis Singapore delivery. A NoPac run was reportedly done at $12,250 on a 63,000dwt open North China for redelivery to SE Asia.
Handy Size
The trend set at the beginning of the week continued with the Atlantic remaining firm, but weak in the Pacific. Brokers suggested that the current stronger rates for Supramaxes could spill over to the smaller sizes and the positive sentiment would hold for slightly longer. The Persian Gulf area was active this week with a plentiful supply of handy cargoes, but the Pacific market showed little sign of improvement. A 38,000dwt was fixed from Antwerp to the USG at $9,750, while a 38,000dwt, open in the Continent, was fixed for a 30-40 day trip via the Baltic, for redelivery W Africa at $16,000. A 35,000dwt open Greece was booked for a trip to SE Asia at $16,000.
From EC South America, a 37,000dwt was fixed at $12,000 for a trip redelivery Skaw-Cape Passero range, and a 31,000dwt was booked to move logs to India at $13,500. From the Persian Gulf, a 35,000dwt was fixed for four to six months at $10,000. Another 35,000dwt was fixed from Fujairah to EC India at $8,500.
FREIGHTOS BALTIC CONTAINER REPORT
The top five indexes are all up on last week and also all up on last year, a sure sign that peak season is now in full swing.
Both China-West Coast and China-East Coast rates are currently 29% higher than at the same time last year.
With recent GRIs sticking, it’s no surprise that, on top of the September 1 increase, some carriers have announced a GRI for a September 15 GRI as well – making it the 17th so far this year.
As well as improved carrier discipline, other factors are at play, like advance ordering to beat the new tariffs on China imports. This issue may be masking an underlying rise in demand, and in itself will have a limited impact on pricing.
Typhoons in East Asia have recently caused disruptions, especially rollings when ships skip a scheduled docking. Category 5, Hurricane Lane is currently heading toward Hawaii, and will affect trade routes if it continues heading north.
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Source: Business Times
