Tanker Report
VLCC
Rates in the ME Gulf to China remained steady at around WS 49. A trip to Japan was covered at WS 47.75 while a shorter run to Singapore reportedly got fixed at WS 48.5 by SPC, all basis 270,000mt.
Voyages to US Gulf held at around WS 19 Cape/Cape for 280,000mt. West Africa/China was fixed at WS 50 for 260,000mt, although there is also a report subsequently of a Total re-let agreeing WS 47.5.
GSC took DHT tonnage for Algeria to Yosu at $4.2 million. Vitol took ‘Saham’ for 270,000 tonnes fuel oil from Rotterdam to Singapore at $3.15 million.
With healthy amounts of enquiry in US Gulf a voyage to Japan was fixed at $5.0 million, while P66 paid $4.0 million for US Gulf to Singapore.
IOC agreed $3.85 million for its EC Mexico to Paradip trip.
Suezmax
Rates in the 135,000mt trade from Black Sea/Med came under downward pressure, easing around 7.5 points to WS 90.
In the Mediterranean UML fixed a replacement from Libya to Singapore at $2.4 million.
Closer to home, Repsol took Maran tonnage from Sidi Keir to Spain at WS 81.5 basis 140,000mt.
West Africa rates for 130,000mt to UK-Continent fell from WS 75 to WS 68.75 and subsequently, P66 took ‘Trinity’ from Angola at WS 65 to both Europe and EC Canada, with a US Gulf option at WS 60.
Aframax
The slide in the Mediterranean continued with the market losing another 30 points to around WS 85 with Black Sea paying WS 90, in contrast to the WS 120 at the end of last week.
In the North, rates weakened by 12.5 points with 100,000mt from Baltic now paying WS 72.5.
The 80,000mt cross North Sea market eased from WS 110 to WS 100, with a WC Norway load earlier fixed at WS 102.5.
A positive week in the 70,000mt Caribbean and EC Mexico/upcoast trade saw the market gain 15 points to WS 145.
Panamax
Rates for 55,000mt from ARA or Skikda to US Gulf remained unchanged at WS 105 level.
Clean
In the 75,000mt from ME Gulf to Japan trade, rates eased around 8.25 points to be assessed now at WS 111.75 and it was a similar story for the LR1s with last fixed at WS 115 for 55,000mt to Japan, but the rates here also remain under pressure.
Despite an active week, an abundance of tonnage in the 37,000mt Cont/USAC trade saw rates ease five points to WS 115 and the 38,000mt backhaul market remains in the doldrums, losing a further 7.5 points to WS 67.5.
DRY REPORT
Capesize
Despite the major Posidonia event in Greece, rates for the big ships took off this week, with the stars seeming to be working in conjunction, with both the Pacific and Atlantic markets active.
However, the dampener came as the week closed out and this despite Vale allegedly raiding the market and taking upwards of 10 ships direct with the owners/operators for July at rates around $19.00.
Prior to this, Brazil had gained momentum with June and July cargoes fixed at levels nudging the high $19.00s and even a rumour of $20.00 agreed.
North Atlantic trading has been very slow in recent weeks but even here a fresh cargo input saw rates from Bolivar to Rotterdam rise to closer to $10.00 than $9.00. Mid-week Panocean took a super-eco 2015-built vessel for a 6-15 July cargo from Seven Islands to Beilun at $24.25, with the ship coming open in Sines.
Increased ore and coal activity from Australia also saw rates firm in the East with levels near the mid $8.00s on the West Australia/China run for dates from 19 June onwards (almost up $1/ton on the previous week).
As the pace slowed there were some jitters with talk of rates slipping to near $8.00 and even a tick under.
Timecharter activity gained momentum with a well-described ship achieving $20,000 daily for a West Australia run and the more standard types in the high teens.
Elsewhere there was talk that a 2014 182,000-tonner in ballast from Jintang fixed a cargo from Saldanha Bay to Qingdao at a sharply higher $14.90, but others suggested the ship involved agreed over $22,000 daily basis retroactive delivery China.
Panamax
There was significantly more period interest than last week, with rates improving from $13,000/low $13,000s for one year on a Kamsarmax last week.
Two vessels reportedly fixed at $14,150 and $14,650 respectively this week, as well as a newbuilding Kamsarmax achieving $15,100 for six to eight months period delivery in the Philippines.
On the spot market East coast South America has again been a hive of activity with $35.00 per metric tonne fixed for Santos to North China for June end dates, representing an increase of about $3.00 per metric tonne compared to the previous week.
Charterers again began taking tonnage delivery India and the South Pacific on time charter, rather than arrival the East coast South America.
Rates in the North Atlantic also improved as the tonnage list tightened, and towards the end of the week a few significantly improved fixtures emerged, including a Kamsarmax agreeing $13,500 for a trip from the North coast of South America to the Mediterranean.
The same vessel fixed and failed at the end of last week for similar business at $10,500.
Meanwhile the Pacific has been very positional, with the well described units seeing improved bids especially in the North, with the rest of the market reliant on the improved sentiment driven by East coast South America and the period market to maintain their ideas.
Supramax
With many travelling in Greece this week, the Supra and Ultramaxes remained quiet at the beginning of the week, but rates from the US Gulf started to climb soon later.
Brokers also suggested East coast South America market was improving, especially for cargoes loading second-half June onwards.
By contrast the Continent and Mediterranean markets remained flat.
Overall a week of less activity in the Pacific, but short period fixtures were reported on a 60,000-dwt open South Korea fixing for four to seven months at $14,000 with worldwide redelivery.
From the US Gulf, a 63,000-dwt was re-let for a coal run to the Mediterranean at $17,750, whilst a 61,000-dwt was linked to a petcoke trip from the Gulf to Italy, with redelivery basis passing Gibraltar at $18,000.
A trip to Japan was reported to have done at a tick worth over $20,000 for a 58,000-dwt.
From East coast South America, two 63,000-dwt were reportedly fixed to China both in the higher $14,000s plus a ballast bonus in the higher $400,000s.
Similar rates were also reported on a similar-sized vessel for moving sugar from Brazil to Chittagong.
In the Continent, there was talk of Supramax and Ultramax vessels fixing for scrap cargoes to the Mediterranean ranging from $11,000 to $12,000.
In the East, a 57,000-dwt open in Manila was paid $12,000 for a trip via Indonesia to East coast India, and a 58,000-dwt open South China was paid $11,000 for a round trip via Indonesia.
Nickel ore trips from the Philippines to China were reported fixed at $13,000 for a 56,000-dwt basis delivery to mid-China.
More activity was talked about with increased enquiry for ships open South Africa.
Besides choosing to ballast to East coast South America, a 56,000-dwt was fixed at $12,000 plus mid $200,000 ballast bonus to the Persian Gulf / West coast India range, and same level reported for East coast India redelivery.
Handysize
The BHSI had minimal changes throughout the week, mimicking a similar pattern as Supramax/ Ultramax vessels in the US Gulf and East coast of South America.
Some brokers suggested the improvement on the US Gulf reflected the positive movement from the other vessel sizes, but others did not see this happening yet.
Brokers also saw a growing tonnage list in the East coast of South America for the next two weeks.
There was a 39,000-dwt open Santos fixed at $10,500 for moving sugar to Algeria in the middle of the week. Little reported from the East this week.
This report is produced by the Baltic Exchange.
The Baltic Exchange, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore Exchange, is the world’s only independent source of maritime market information for the trading and settlement of physical and derivative contracts.
Its international community of over 650 members encompasses the majority of world shipping interests and commits to a code of business conduct overseen by the Baltic.
Did you subscribe for our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: THE BUSINESS TIMES
