THE BALTIC Dry Index has continued on its steep upward trajectory that started at its nadir in mid-February. On Friday, the BDI was 1424, an increase of 17.6% on the week before and an increase of 136% on one month ago.
Capesize
A stronger week overall for the sector as the North Atlantic appeared active with more enquiry since the middle of the week. With fresh tonnage getting tighter the time charter trips for both fronthaul and Transatlantic runs had the biggest improvement amongst all routes, finishing the week at US$16,639 and US$29,344 respectively. The Pacific kept its steady pace as the West Australia to Qingdao run stepped up to US$8.375, a peak so far this year and last seen before Christmas last year. Subsequently, the time charter average for the 5TC rose over US$4,000 compared with last Friday and finished proceedings at US$14,466.
Panamax
A captivating week for the Panamax market with various peaks and troughs seen across all markets. The Transatlantic in the North appeared a little nervous in places with a lack of demand and some voyage fixtures equating to exceptionally low returns. However, there was talk of improved bids for the fronthaul trips come Friday. EC South America saw a mini splurge midweek with end March arrivals capturing better numbers, US$17,000 +US$700,000 was being achieved here. Asia witnessed a firmer week with all origins coming alive and finding support. Indonesia saw a healthy pick up in activity, ably supported by good grain and mineral demand ex Australia and NoPac. US$18,000 was the highlight and concluded end week on an 82,000-dwt delivery China for a grain NoPac round, whilst LME tonnage were comfortably achieving US$15/16,000 levels for trips via Indonesia to China. Period activity came alive too, with US$17,250 concluded on an 82,000-dwt delivery China basis nine to 12 months.
Ultramax/Supramax
A story of two halves, with the start of the week seeing little excitement in Asia at the beginning. However, as the week closed an upturn in fresh cargo enquiry from Indonesia and Australia, combined with a steady supply of backhaul requirements, saw renewed optimism. The Atlantic generally remained firm with stronger levels seen from the South Atlantic and more availability from the Mediterranean. Period interest remained and a 63,000-dwt open Continent fixing around US$18,000 for seven to nine months. A 56,000-dwt open China fixed four to about six months trading at US$14,600. From the South Atlantic, Ultramax sizes were seeing around US$20,000 for Transatlantic runs. From the Mediterranean a 61,000-dwt was fixed at around US$20,000 for a trip to West Africa. In Asia, a 57,000-dwt fixed delivery Cebu via Indonesia redelivery China at US$15,500. A 63,000-dwt (scrubber fitted) open North China fixed a NoPac round redelivery Sudan at US$20,500 with scrubber benefit for charterers’ account.
Handysize
The buoyant mood continued during the week with positive gains in both basins despite a lack of visible activity. East Coast South America was said to have seen fresh grain enquiry enter the market daily. An unnamed large handy was rumoured to have been fixed from South Brazil via the River Plate to Antwerp-Rotterdam-Amsterdam-Ghent range in the region of US$14,000/ US$14,500, but no more details surfaced. A 24,000-dwt open in the Eastern Mediterranean was fixed basis delivery Çanakkale via the Black Sea to the United Kingdom with an intended cargo of agriproducts at US$7,000. From Asia, brokers spoke of more requirements from Australia and Indonesia with a 37,00-dwt fixing in the mid teens for a trip from Thailand via Southeast Asia to China. It did, however, surface that this failed. Brokers also spoke of more period enquiry. A 33,000-dwt open in North Vietnam was rumoured to have been placed on subjects at US$13,000 for an undisclosed period.
Clean
The Middle East Gulf has been active this week with rates improving on all sizes. TC1 (75kt MEG/Japan) has had a weekly gain of six points to WS195.31 (a round-trip TCE of US$52,300 per day). Meanwhile, the Western discharging TC20 recovered by US$107,000 to 4,735,714. LR2s on the 55kt MEG/Japan run (TC5) have also risen six points to WS188.5 (a daily round-trip of US$35,100). The TC8 (65kt MEG/UKC) remained flat at US$3.7 million. For the MRs, the MEG/East Africa trip (TC17), the rate has risen over 21 points to a shade above WS216 (US$22,800 per day round-trip TCE).
West of Suez, LRs have had a bit of a mixed week with rates for TC15 (90kt Skikda/Japan) marginally falling US$58,000 to US$3.9 million (US$18,300 pd round trip TCE, about only US$100 less than last week). TC16 (60kt Amsterdam/Offshore Lomé) rose 3.5 points to WS175 (a daily round-trip TCE of US$36,100).
UK-Continent MRs have dramatically improved after last week’s lull, with TC2 (37kt Cont/USAC) and TC19 (37 ARA/West Africa) gaining about 42 points to WS198.89 (a round-trip TCE of US$24,300 per day) and WS207 (about US$27,000 daily round trip TCE) respectively. There are rumours of WS200+ being on subjects overnight for a TC2 voyage.
On the Handymax, TC6 (30kt Algeria/West Med) has recovered 41 points to WS221 (a daily round-trip TCE of US$34,200). For TC23 (30kt A-R-A/UKC) the rate has improved by 7.5 points to break through WS170.
The US Gulf MR Market has continued to climb with TC14 (38 USG/UKC) gaining about 18 points to a fraction over WS185 (a daily TCE of US$18,500 round-trip) while the 38kt USG/Brazil trip (TC18) rose by 31 points to above WS273 (a round trip TCE of US$41,000 per day). On a run to the Caribbean TC21 has made further gains, up by over US$229,000 to US$1,066,667.
VLCC
The VLCC market strengthened dramatically this week with rates (and earnings) sharply improving on all routes. For the 270,000mt Middle East Gulf to China voyage the rate rocketed 27 points (38%) to WS98.55, which shows a daily round voyage TCE of US$92,522 basis the Baltic Exchange’s vessel description. The rate for 280,000mt Middle East Gulf to US Gulf (via the cape/cape routing) is assessed 19 points higher at WS61.
In the Atlantic market, the rate for 260,000mt West Africa/China escalated 23 points (32%) to almost WS94 showing a round-trip TCE of US$85,800 per day. The rate for 270,000mt US Gulf/China rose a comparatively meagre US$1.015m (10%) to about US$11.12 million (US$58,600 per day round trip TCE).
Suezmax
The rate for 135,000mt CPC/Augusta was pared back this week with rates coming off 3.5 points to WS167 (a round-trip TCE of US$87,000 per day). In West Africa the fundamentals were unable to support the sentiment and rates tumbled 25 points by Thursday’s assessment at WS116 for the 130,000mt Nigeria/Rotterdam voyage. Lower rates were expected going forwards, with Portuguese charterers reported to have put a ship on subjects at WS110 for a trip Djeno to Sines. In the Middle East, the rate for 140,000mt Basra/Lavera is flat, hovering around the WS66 mark.
Aframax
In the North Sea market, rates for the 80,000mt Hound Point/Wilhelmshaven route fell back five points to WS175 (a round-trip daily TCE of about US$72,000). In the Mediterranean, the rate for 80,000mt Ceyhan/Lavera shed seven points – a shade above WS185 (a daily round trip TCE of US$61,100).
Across the Atlantic, the Stateside Aframax market weakened with tonnage ballasting from Europe to try to latch on to the better earnings. The rate for 70,000mt East Coast Mexico/US Gulf lost 19 points to just below WS385 (US$144,200 per day round-trip TCE). The rate for 70,000mt Covenas/US Gulf fell by almost the same to WS358.75 (a daily round-trip TCE of US$121,800). For the Transatlantic route of 70,000mt US Gulf/Rotterdam, rates slid about 24 points to WS250 (showing a round-trip TCE of US$72,700 per day).
LNG
Spot market activity is quiet and some cargoes ex-Australia have been quoted in the market for end April-early May. But while the Pacific sees some firm enquiry, the Atlantic has fallen nearly silent with next to nothing reported or worked in the market. The spot market has been dictated in part by availability, or a lack of ships willing to work on spot terms. Players with length are focussing on more profitable shorter-term requirements. With cargoes now ramping up from Freeport, tonnage will be swallowed for contractual movements in the Atlantic. Any potential spot cargoes could be put on the back burner for the time being. There has been little movement either side of Suez, which is creating a stalemate. The focus in both basins remains firmly on period. Rates for BLNG1g Aus-Jap fell a little over US$1500 to close at US$76,924 RV. The Atlantic saw similar falls to finish at US$57,102 for US-UK, and US$65,944 for US-East.
Period has continued to be the mainstay for brokers and traders with rates remaining steady. Shorter term conversations have proliferated the market this last week while owners weigh up the potential profits of booking in against probable quiet own programs. For longer period our current estimations for a 174k 2-Stroke vessel with 0.085% boil off and delivery one month ahead: US$189,500 for 12 months, and US$152,500 for three years.
LPG
The LPG market has had an extended absence of market players this week with the Tokyo LPG conference being well attended. This has helped hamper any gains for the LPG market in both East and West with rates on all three BLPG routes falling. The BLPG1 Ras Tanura-Chiba fell by US$4.429 over the week falling below three digits to finish at US$97.571. With ships fixing well into April, tonnage remains for some late March enquiry. However, uncertainty of cargo requirement could make these vessels wait until mid-April for potential stems to come into play.
The West saw similar drops on rates with BLPG3 shaving nearly US$10 off over the week. Fixing has been steady and while the tonnage list is worked away there are more ships coming up towards mid-end April, which could eat further away at rates. Delays in the Panama are beginning to show again and this ought to help bolster numbers. But in the short term it has had little effect. BLPG2 finished at US$80.6 a daily TCE Return of US$86,786, while BLPG3 fared worse falling nearly US$10 to close at US$144.143, a TCE daily equivalent earning of US$73,126.
