TANKER REPORT
This report compiles the brief insights on the WS rates that were prominent this week. Also, it was visible that Panamax has highest WS freight rate and Clean standing next to it. Aframaxes has the highest int the Baltic as ice restrictions are removed.
VLCCs
Another difficult week for owners in the Middle East Gulf saw rates hovering around WS 39/40 region to China. GSC fixed to South Korea at WS 35.5 all basis 270,000 tonnes cargo.
Going west, the market sits at WS 18 level cape/cape for 280,000 tonnes to US Gulf.
West Africa/China pays WS 40/40.5 level for 260,000 tonnes. Unipec fixed a trip US Gulf to Singapore at $3.0 million.
Suezmaxes
In West Africa the market for 130,000 tonnes has moved up five points to around WS 57.5, depending on the voyage.
There was a deal done at WS 61.25, but this was from Ghana to Portugal, which has a lower flat rate.
Black Sea rates have been steady at WS 75/77.5 region for 135,000 tonnes, while Black Sea/Korea went at $2.5 million.
Repsol fixed 140,000 tonnes from Sidi Kerir to Spain at WS 58, while Irving fixed a 135,000 tonnes cargo from East Med to Canaport at WS 52.5.
Aframaxes
Charterers now have the benefit of a wider choice in the Baltic, with ice restrictions lifted. As a result, the market has now softened six/seven points to very low WS 80s for 100,000 tonnes.
The 80,000 tonnes cross North Sea trade, has been steady at WS 95.
In the 80,000 tonnes cross Med and Black Sea/Med trade, rates are now at WS 80 region.
Earlier a Ceyhan to Castellon run went at WS 75, while an attractive Sidi Kerir/Portugal trip was covered at WS 72.5.
The 70,000 tonnes Caribbean/upcoast market was steady at around WS 97.5.
Panamax
Rates have come under downward pressure with charterers focusing more on Aframaxes.
The market for 55,000 tonnes from ARA or Skikda to US Gulf is now assessed at just below WS 100 level.
Clean
The LR2 market for 75,000 tonnes from Middle East Gulf to Japan eased around three WS points, to sit now at about WS 87.
LR1s were maintained at WS 110 for 55,000 tonnes to Japan.
Steady activity in the 37,000 tonnes Cont/USAC trade saw rates gain by 10 points to WS 145 level, with Scandinavia load paying 5/7.5 points more.
In the 38,000 tonnes backhaul trade, the market continued to firm gaining around 17.5 points to WS 105.
DRY REPORT
The dry cargo market saw fluctuations in the West Australian region, while South, and East coast South America region a steady market for capsize, but still had a downfall by 5 %. US Gulf area saw the highest raise in ship booking on per DWT basis. No major falls were seen in other major ship time charters.
Capesize
This week has seen the Cape 5 time charter weighted average almost double. Similarly, the Brazil to China ore rates climbed over $4.50, from mid-$13.00s, to somewhere in the $18.00s.
Despite all this activity, the West Australia ore rates have moved a modest amount. There have been daily fluctuations, with FMG paying $7.50 for a prompt ship, compared to rates of around the $6.50 level the previous week.
Fewer fixtures have emerged on timecharter, with a 14-year-old 180,000-tonner fixing from Rizhao for a round voyage in the East, at $15,000 daily.
While earlier this week, the Aqua Vision (180,353 2011), open Zhuhai 20-23 April, went to Jiangsu Steamship in direct continuation for an Australian round voyage at $12,950.
Saldanha Bay/Qingdao rates firmed, last done was $12.80 on the Mineral Stonehenge for early May loading to Anglo American.
There was a little period activity, with ArcelorMittal re-letting the Pelopidas (176,006 2011), open China 1-5 May for 9-12 months, at $17,850, in addition to the Pacific Bulk vessel Cape Splendor (206,070 2014), agreeing $23,500 retroactive, sailing to Lanshan 10 April, for balance of period (about 7-9 months).
However, in both cases a charterer was not reported.
Panamax
Period interest continued, despite the disparity with spot rates, with the ongoing improvement in the Cape market further boosting the sentiment.
The paper market tried to bounce a few times this week, but the declining BPI repeatedly dampened to resolve.
The North Atlantic was very active in the first half of the week, with a decent clear out of early tonnage, however, rates still softened and there were many reports of ships fixed on timecharter, which, proved to be the equivalent to voyages rates.
Further South, and East coast South America maintained a reasonable cargo demand, but this was matched by supply, so rates drifted as the week progressed from around $16,500 plus $650,000 ballast bonus for front haul on a modern Kamsarmax, to around $15,500 plus $550,000 ballast bonus.
The Pacific remained subdued throughout the week, with a lack of mineral cargoes and an abundance of early ships putting rates under pressure.
Those particularly impacted, being Post Panamaxes, however, NoPac grains saw a steady volume of fixing, and rates here showed a little more resistance.
Expectation was more optimistic for later dates, with several brokers noting healthy enquiry on forward positions.
Supramax
Overall a week lacking activity in the Atlantic, but some suggested a floor might have been found in certain areas.
Most of the Atlantic routes made gains, and the US Gulf market was picking up again towards the weekend.
However, it was also reported that a longer tonnage list was evolving in the Mediterranean, with more market players keen to take vessels for period in the area, but was still fairly flat in East coast South America.
In the Pacific, it remained a struggle for the rates to achieve the last done level.
A 57,000-dwt open Canakkale, was fixed via the Black Sea and Red Sea, to redeliver in Port Said at $9,500 early part of the week.
A 63,000-dwt open Iskenderun, was booked West Africa with clinker, at $10,500.
From the US Gulf, a 58,000-dwt was fixed from South-West Pass for grain, to West coast Central America, at a rate around $20,000.
Another Ultramax vessel went from the US Gulf area at $24,000 to the East.
From East coast South America, a 58,000-dwt was fixed at $16,500 to the Mediterranean; another similar-sized agreed a trip to Adabiya, with redelivery in Port Said, at $17,000 basis, Tubarao delivery.
In the Pacific, steel runs from North China to South-East Asia, were reported ranging from $8,000 to $9,000.
Nickel ore trips were fixed at $12,000 on Ultramax vessel open Thailand, or, $10,000 on a 53,000-dwt open South China.
Two 56,000-dwt open Hong Kong and Singapore were fixed for Indonesia coal trips to China, at $9,500 and $11,000 respectively.
A coal trip from Indonesia to West coast India, was reportedly done at the low $13,000s on a 58,000-dwt basis delivery Cebu, and $9,000 on a 56,000-dwt basis delivery South China.
From the Indian Ocean, a 56,000-dwt delivery Bandar Imam Khomeini, was fixed for moving sulphur, via Iran, to China at $15,000.
An iron ore trip from Iran to China paid $16,000 on a 58,000-dwt basis delivery Mesaieed.
Handysize
A voyage fixture to Algeria, had the highest mark in terms of load against booking rate. While, the optimal deal was done for a transit to Tunisia carrying barley and close to 50% of load and 10% of discharge.
The Pacific basin saw a continuous fall throughout the week, although Most of the areas remained largely flat.The negative sentiment continues in the US Gulf, while the rates struggled to push up further from East coast South America.
On the period front, a 38,000-dwt open Paranagua, was booked for four to six months at $13,000 redelivery in the Atlantic.
A voyage fixture of 40,000 tonnes, 10% stem, from Up-River to Algeria, was booked at $30.75, with 8,000mt load and 5,000mt discharge plus 5% total commission structure.
A 28,000-dwt open Dneprobugsky, was fixed for a front haul business, with long duration, at a rate in the low $13,000s.
A voyage fixture of 25,000-tonnes, 10% barley, was done from Rouen to Tunisia, at $23.75, with 10,000 mt load and 2,500 mt discharge.
From the East, a 28,000-dwt open Busan, was booked for a trip via Japan to South-East Asia with scrap cargo, at $8,300.
A 37,000-dwt open Lanqiao, was concluded to move logs from New Zealand to China, at $11,500.
A 38,000-dwt open Sandakan was fixed for a trip, via Australia, to North China with alumina, at $10,250.
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Source: Business Times
