Capesize
The Capesize market kept up a constant precipitous fall in values this week. Opening at $29,479, the Capesize 5TC has closed the week at $19,952, a drop of almost -30%. The Atlantic has been the most affected of the basins, yet this is likely because it had further to fall. As expected, activity was low throughout the declining week with owners able to bide their time to take large bites out of rates every time they fixed. The Brazil to China C3 declined at an increasing rate, as it lost -$3.592 to close the market down at $16.53 by weeks end. The Atlantic market was very low throughout the week and the negative sentiment of the wider market pushed the Transatlantic C8 down to $22,475. The Pacific Basin had little to stop the C5 drop. It settled the week at $7.668 breaking hopes of a quick rebound. While rates have lowered, earnings still remain in the respectable high teens level. The coming week will be telling on whether Q4 holds any further prospects or whether the market should start prepping itself for the coming Q1.
Panamax
Little sign of cheer this week as Panamax rates came under severe pressure. In particular throughout the Atlantic basin as the supply/demand plot turned in favour of the charterers, who for the most part were able to pick off tonnage at will as the count increased. The US gulf numbers drifted as committed tonnage and ballasters broadly frustrated the market here. Elsewhere, activity from EC South America was modest – at best. In Asia, it was a tale of two divides with the North region at the beginning of the week trending firm and the south appearing weak with a distinct lack of minerals ex Australia. However, come mid-week the axis had tipped in favour of a strong southern region with a glut of Indonesian stems surfacing against a tighter tonnage count. NoPac rates drifted from $13,000, getting fixed on 82,000-dwt delivery South Korea midweek to a median rate today pegged at around $12,000.
Ultramax/Supramax
A rather lacklustre week for the BSI, which remained flat at the beginning of the week. But as the week ended, slight negative movement appeared. Little in the way of period activity was reported with both owners and charterers unwilling to commit. From the Atlantic, demand remained from Mediterranean and Continent. A 55,600-dwt fixing delivery Casablanca for a trip via Continent redelivery east Mediterranean with scrap at $15,500. From the US Gulf, rate remained steady especially for petcoke runs to India. A 57,000-dwt fixing at $24,000 redelivery west coast India. Otherwise east coast South America remained rather flat with limited fresh enquiry. From Asia, it was a mixed bag. A 55,000-dwt seeing $10,000 for a north Pacific round redelivery Indonesia. Further south, a 56,000-dwt fixed delivery Kosichang trip via Indonesia redelivery Vietnam in the mid $9,000s. The Indian Ocean remained steady, a 55,000-dwt fixing delivery South Africa trip redelivery Pakistan at $11,750 plus $175,000 ballast bonus.
Handysize
At the start of the week, both the BHSI and the time charter average declined for the first time since September. However, they recovered back to the positive territory in the second half of the week with the support from the US Gulf and Continent, despite east coast South America moving sharply lower. Meanwhile, the activity level remained low in the Pacific with China yet returning from the Golden Week holiday. From east coast South America, a 35,000-dwt was fixed from Santos for a trip to Morocco at $9,000. A 36,000-dwt open Pori was fixed for a trip via Baltic to the Continent at $18,000 and a 38,000-dwt open Esbjerg was fixed for a trip to Sea of Marmara with scrap cargoes at $18,000. From the US Gulf, a 39,000-dwt was fixed for a trip to UK Continent with pellets at $15,500.Brokers suggested rates for the Continent market remained firm compared with the Mediterranean, whilst tonnage in the US Gulf is starting to build up with limited fresh cargoes. However, the direction of east coast South America was not clear with the bigger-sized Handysize vessels again being more competitive. Some period activity included a 38,000-dwt delivery Setubal fixing four to six months at $12,900 with redelivery in the Atlantic. A 39,000-dwt open Otranto was failed on subjects for the same period at similar level. On the time charter front, a 38,000-dwt delivery Italy was fixed for a trip via the Black Sea to east coast South America at $12,000. A 30,000-dwt and a 37,000-dwt, both delivery in the US Gulf, was fixed for a trip to east coast South America at $13,000 and low $14,000s respectively. Trips from east coast South America paid $10,000 on a 34,000-dwt to UK/Continent and $8,750 on a 37,000-dwt to US east coast.
Source:The Baltic Briefing