In the West Australia shipping market, there’s a noticeable and healthy volume of cargo available for loading during the early to mid-May 2025 period. Furthermore, there are a significant number of inquiries from charterers (the “buy side”) looking for vessels for dates later in May (second half) and throughout June 2025, reports Fearnleys.
Capesize
Cargo movements ex C3 (Brazil) and West Africa are predominantly scheduled for the second half of May loading dates. In the Far East, the availability of spot tonnage is gradually decreasing as the middle of the week approaches. This tightening is partly attributed to owners opting to ballast their vessels westward, likely to capitalize on potentially stronger rates in the Atlantic basin. Overall, the volume of tonnage ballasting for May loading dates is reported to be generally high.
Recent fixtures for the C5 route (West Australia to China) have concluded in the low to mid USD 7 per metric ton range. For the C3 route (Brazil to China), bids are generally in the mid to high USD 18 per metric ton levels, while owners’ offers are hovering around the USD 19 per metric ton mark, indicating a slight gap between buyer and seller expectations.
Panamax
The Panamax market experienced a cautious start following the Easter break, with some of the previous week’s upward momentum dissipating as traders adopted a wait-and-see approach.
In the Atlantic region, activity remained stable. Tight vessel availability off the Continent was balanced by consistent demand from East Coast South America. However, it’s anticipated that grain shipments from East Coast South America will begin to ease by early June.
The Pacific market saw a slight firming. This was primarily driven by increased activity in the East Australian minerals trade. In contrast, grain cargoes from the North Pacific (NOPAC) remained quiet. Despite an increase in vessels heading towards Indonesia, high inventory levels in China suggest limited potential for significant rate increases in the coming weeks for this region.
Supramax
The Supramax and Handysize markets experienced a subdued week overall, with limited activity following the Easter holidays.
In the Atlantic, both the Supramax and Handysize sectors displayed a muted tone. The Mediterranean and US Gulf regions saw minimal fresh inquiries, leading to a slight increase in available tonnage. Across both basins in the Atlantic, a wait-and-see approach prevailed, resulting in stagnant market sentiment.
While the Atlantic lacked momentum, the Supramax sector in Asia demonstrated relatively stronger dynamics. Renewed interest from Indonesia provided support and helped maintain a more positive tone in this region.
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Source: Fearnleys
