How much have the rates fallen?
“Activity for panamaxes carrying coal to China has been weak,” said an analyst with a large European shipbroker.
“Also, with Chinese New Year approaching [in early February], everything points to a weak demand period,” he said, adding lower South American grain exports were also weighing on the index.
China restrictions effect
China’s government introduced coal import restrictions from mid-November, to keep 2018 foreign purchases in line with 2017 levels of 271m tonnes.
The restrictions led to imports in November falling to a 16-month low of 638,000t/day (19.2m tonnes), according to customs data, but more recent figures have yet to emerge.
A Chinese coal analyst said it appeared there were no official restrictions on coal imports at present, but that import activity remained subdued.
Shipbroker Intermodal said the period leading to Chinese New Year was a seasonally slow time for dry bulk vessel demand.
“Expectations remain rather modest for the coming weeks, with owners hoping the market will see restricted downward pressure,” it added.
Shipbroker Arrow said rates in the Pacific had come under pressure from surplus vessel availability.
“Lagging Australian and Indonesian coal demand has distracted from what is quite steady [north Pacific] grain market,” it added.
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Source: Montel News
