The Baltic Briefing has released Bulk carrier maritime activity report for the 49th week of this year. The report formulated on 4th December 2020 highlights the situation in the bulk carrier market including trading activities, freight rates, and charter rates.
Capesize
The Capesize market continued its meandering behaviour this week as the 5TC opened at $12,712.
It weakened throughout the week before reviving to close up Friday at $12,606.
It was a varied market across the globe with some pockets of tightness having an overbearing effect on several routes.
The West Australia to China C5 lifted 68 cents this week to $7.795, while the Brazil to China C3 saw rates under sustained pressure drop $1.45 down to $12.36.
Re-scheduling of several vessels out of Ponta Da Madeira – due to an incident – was partly to blame for this decline.
In the North Atlantic, prompt vessel tightness is causing firming of some rates.
But overall, the basin remains in dire need of cargo.
The Transatlantic C8, trading now at $12,725, lifted at weeks end but is firmly placed as the discounted basin with the Pacific C10 trading now at $16,638 with its more ample supply of cargo.
With Q1 ’21 only around the corner with its forward levels well below $10k level, the option of which basin to trade will largely favour the Pacific unless 2020 has another surprise up its sleeve.
Panamax
As we approached the holiday season, the North Atlantic Panamax market was described by a few as appearing like a two-tier market with premium rates paid for the quick Baltic coal trips.
Close to $20,000 was paid a couple of times as tonnage count appeared tight.
But elsewhere, discounted rates were witnessed as owners wanting longer duration employment to avoid opening their tonnage over the festive period.
A similar picture emerged in Asia too, with Indonesia to China and Australia to India predominantly the market drivers this week with the NoPac taking something of a back seat.
Indonesia to China coal trips were averaging out at around the $13,000 mark dependent on delivery.
Meanwhile, $14,000 was concluded on an Australia to India coal trip on an 82,000dwt delivery China.
In period news, an 82,000-dwt achieved close to $11,000 with a grain house for one year’s period.
Ultramax/Supramax
A rather patchy week with some areas remaining firm whilst others lost momentum.
However, the overall trend week on week was lower with the BSI closing at 1,011 – down from the previous week’s close of 1,018.
Period activity again was limited with charterers showing little interest.
A 61,000-dwt open in Asia was fixed at $10,275 for one year.
Atlantic activity centred around the Mediterranean – Continent with tonnage in short supply.
A 63,000-dwt fixing delivery Marmara Sea redelivery US east coast in the upper $11,000s and 57,000-dwt fixing a trip from the Continent via the Baltic to the east Mediterranean at $17,000.
Elsewhere, last week’s activity from the US Gulf waned with a 56,000-dwt fixing a trans Atlantic run in the mid teens.
Pressure eased from south east Asia after the flurry of demand for coal from Indonesia to China slowed.
A 56,000-dwt fixing delivery Singapore trip via Malaysia redelivery China at $15,000.
Indian Ocean levels remained steady. A 56,000-dwt fixing delivery South Africa trip Bangladesh at $11,900 plus $190,000 ballast bonus.
Handysize
The Continent / Mediterranean market started softening since mid of the week with the relevant HS1 and HS2 route turning to decline.
East coast South America was largely flat, with brokers having slightly different opinions on the trend.
It was suggested more ballasters sailing from west Africa towards east coast South America – whilst rates on transatlantic trips from the region then began to fall.
However, the time charterer average and the overall index continued to improve, mainly with the aid from the US Gulf and Pacific routes in the second half of the week.
A 37,000-dwt was fixed from the Continent for a trip to east Mediterranean at a rate in the $17,000s.
A 33,000-dwt delivery Pecem next week was fixed for a trip to the US Gulf at $13,500.
A 38,000-dwt delivery Veracruz was fixed for a trip via US east coast to the Continent at $13,500.
A 29,000-dwt was fixed basis passing Jeddah for a trip via Israel to Japan at $10,000.
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Source: Baltic Briefing
