The Baltic Briefing has released a report about the dry bulk market for the 15th week of shipping activities of this year. The report dated 16 April highlights the dry bulk market conditions at the on-sight of the 15th week.
Capesize
The market turned for all Capesize routes this past week as the BCI reached new highs for the year. The Capesize 5TC started the week at $23,911, surged early in the week before a lull mid-week. It closed out with a strong gain of 4,339 for the week to $28,250. Both basins had a solid contribution of fixtures this week. The liquid West Australia to China C5, which closed at $11.368, and the Brazil to China C3, which closed at $25.205, were both highly active in volatile trading sessions.
Meanwhile the less frequently traded Backhaul C16 at $14,325 and Fronthaul C9 at $49,200 made significant moves at differing times throughout the week. Rate levels are now closing in on the highs from last year, albeit the build-up in values this time around appear not to be taking off like a spaceship but rather taking considered pauses for evaluation. The flow of fixtures appears strong and supported for the time being as we head into Singapore Maritime Week where the vessel class will surely be at the centre of many discussions.
Panamax
A topsy-turvy week for the Panamax market, with the first half starting out in a very bearish trend only for it to rebound mid-week as the market bulls returned with some suggesting the market had possibly over corrected with fundamentals not really changing. Assisted by a rejuvenated FFA market, positional tightness and an increase in demand from both EC South America/North Atlantic and NoPac rates for the most part improved. Typically, trans-Atlantic round trips were fixing at $13,250 for 82,000dwt delivery Gibraltar-Skaw moving on to $18,750 by Friday. A host of Kamsarmax vessels were sourced from Indian Ocean deliveries, rates concluded Monday/Tuesday mostly around the $18,000 mark, elevating to $24,000 by end week. To a lesser degree Asia was slower to react but stronger numbers were agreed out of NoPac, advancing from $19,500 to $21,000 as the week went on, with the South now seeing improvements amid support from EC South America.
Ultramax/Supramax
Positive sentiment returned to the sector this week with increased cargo enquiry from key areas such as the US Gulf where a 63,000 dwt was covered for a trip to the eastern Mediterranean in the upper teens, also from East Coast South America with the uptake on the larger Panamax size. Ultramaxes were seeing in the $19,000s plus $900,000s ballast bonus for trips to Singapore-Japan. Period activity however remained limited, a 63,000 dwt open south east Asia being covered for 3 to 5 months at $23,000 with redelivery Arabian Gulf-Japan range. Stronger levels from the Asian arena, a 53,000 open Singapore fixing a trip to China at $26,000 and brokers saying that the Ultramax size was seeing around mid $20,000s for north Pacific round voyages. From the Indian Ocean healthy rates for prompt tonnage saw a 63,000 dwt fixing delivery retro sailing Singapore for a trip via Mozambique redelivery China at $19,000 plus $50,000 ballast bonus.
Handysize
With the larger sizes making positive moves on their respective indices will it be the turn for the BHSI next? As the week drew to a close there were the first green shoots for owners as some markets possibly arrested their decline.
Both the US Gulf and East Coast South America had slowed their decline on trans-Atlantic runs this week and showed positive returns for the first time since 19 March. Brokers had said that a majority of the early tonnage had been fixed and there were more requirements coming into the market for May. Some also said there was more period enquiry which has given owners some positive news.
The Continent was still under pressure with a 37,000 dwt fixing from the Continent to Brazil at a rumoured $12,500. The Mediterranean was showing better returns where a 37,000 dwt had fixed from Egypt to south Brazil at $14,000 and a 39,000 dwt had fixed from the Black Sea to Spanish Mediterranean at $17,500.
The US Gulf levels appeared to have levelled out with a 28,000 dwt fixing from Tampa to the UK at $11,000 which is similar to levels being concluded last week. In Asia a 38,000 dwt fixed from Surabaya via Australia to CIS at $21,500.
A 38,000 dwt open in China has rumoured to have fixed via Japan to Mombasa with a cargo of steels at $25,000 showing that the levels back haul business is also improving.
Did you subscribe to our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source : Baltic Exchange
