THE Baltic Dry Index on Friday 1 July was 2214, a very slight decline from the previous Friday’s 2331.
The BDI average for the week ending this past Friday was 2228, down 8% on the previous week’s average (2423).
Capesize
A mild week for the Capesize sector saw rates trundling sideways with small pockets of encouragement. However, there was nothing to initiate a push out of the recent trading range as the 5TC softened 130 week-on-week to settle at US$19,745.
A brief lift midweek gave some suggestion that a strengthening of sentiment in the Atlantic was imminent. But by Friday this spark looks to have been snuffed out as the Transatlantic C8 settled down slightly at US$26,167. Market views on the Atlantic situation have been mixed as some stronger fixtures were heard, but these were expected to have had a premium paid for their shorter duration.
Out of Brazil, market chatter was lively midweek about several Newcastlemax iron ore cargoes fixed. Nevertheless, subsequent information poured cold water on this with a claim the information was inaccurate. The Brazil to China C3 market closed the week down -0.106 at US$30.40.
The Pacific region was said to be seeing an increase in tonnage levels, which saw the market lose momentum and drop slightly. West Australia to China C5 closed at US$11.535 which the Transpacific C10 finished up at US$14,841, a significant discount to the Atlantic basin. Now into Q3, trade volumes should be increasing. But with European summer almost upon us, the market appears unmotivated to push in any direction.
Panamax
For the third successive week, corrections were seen in the Panamax market. Muted demand was again met by a sea of prompt tonnage along with an increasing ballaster count. Both basins lacked any meaningful replenishment of fresh cargoes, eating into rates already under pressure.
The Atlantic appeared predominantly grain centric with little mineral activity of note, typically a 76,00-dwt delivery Gibraltar achieved US$21,000 for a trip via NC South America redelivery Cape Passero.
Asia, once again, saw a relative rise in volume week-on-week ex Indonesia. However, this appeared to have very little impact with ships returning to the market as owners locked in these quick trips. An 82,000-dwt delivery South China agreed US$20,500 for a trip via Indonesia redelivery South Korea. It was a limited week of period activity again. However, an 82,000-dwt delivery South China achieved US$21,000 for five to seven months employment.
Ultramax/Supramax
A rather dull week for the sector as most areas lacked fresh impetus and a build-up of prompt tonnage. As the week ended, however, some saw a bit of resistance to the malaise from key areas. This included the US Gulf, where owners became reluctant to reposition to the Continent area. Similarly, from South East Asia, activity seemingly increased but little fixing surfaced. Period activity was limited but a 60,900-dwt open Arabian Gulf was heard fixed in the mid US$30,000s for three to five months trading.
From the Atlantic, a 55,000-dwt fixed delivery West Mediterranean trip via East Mediterranean redelivery US Gulf at US$23,000.
From the South, a 58,000-dwt was fixed for a South American coastal run in the mid US$30,000s.
From Asia, at the beginning of the week a 50,000-dwt open Singapore was heard fixed for an Indonesia to China run in the mid US$18,000s.
By contrast, a 56,000-dwt open Singapore was heard fixed in the mid US$20,000s for a similar run. Further north there was limited fresh enquiry. However, a 64,000-dwt open Japan fixed a NoPac round redelivery Southeast Asia at US$31,000.
Handysize
With largely negative sentiment in both basins, in which brokers described a lack of fresh enquiry as a main contributing factor, levels have softened across the board except for requirements from China to the Atlantic. These have remained stable with a 38,000-dwt fixing from South China to the Mediterranean at US$36,000.
A 38,000-dwt fixed from Singapore via Australia to Taiwan with an intended cargo of salt at US$23,000. A 36,000-dwt fixed from Gresik via Western Australia to China with an intended cargo of Salt at US$25,000. In the Atlantic, a 39,000-dwt fixed from Vila Do Conde to Iceland with an intended cargo of Alumina at US$25,000.
Meanwhile, a 32,000-dwt fixed from Paranagua to the Black Sea with an intended cargo of sugar at US$23,000. In the US Gulf, a 39,000-dwt was fixed for a trip from SW Pass to the Turkish Mediterranean at US$19,000.
Clean
LRs in the Middle East Gulf have been subject to more freight rate reductions this week. TC1 has dropped 54.29 points to WS225.71 and TC5 similarly has lost WS52.14 to WS296.43.
On the MRs TC17 has had a rebound after bottoming out at WS470 midweek, it now sits at WS513.33 (US$47k/day round trip TCE). In the West, the LR2s of TC15 have fluctuated up and down this week. And, after peaking at US$4.6m on Wednesday, have resettled at US$4.44m for now. The LR1s on TC16 stabilised after dropping from WS250 to WS235. There are reports of that being repeated a few times this week. The TCE for this run still holding in the low US$30,000s/day.
On the UK-Continent the MRs have finally come under pressure and freight has consistently been chipped away at this week. TC2 dropped 23.06 points to WS330 (US$28.5k /day round trip TCE) and TC19 followed suit losing 23.57 points to WS338.57.
The USG MR market has continued its resurgence this week, sentiment has remained strong and activity levels consistent. TC14 has risen to WS275 (+WS28.75) and TC18 has also hiked up WS43.33 to WS390 (US$43k/day round trip TCE). The MRA TCE rose from 45,837 to 47,829.
On the Handymax, TC6 has taken a hit this week from low activity levels. The Index has dropped 41.87 points from WS510 to WS468.13 with reports of WS460 on subs for a Cross Mediterranean voyage at the time of writing. In the Baltic, TC9 has remained steady this week ticking up and incremental 8.57 points to WS511.43. Handymax TCEs shouldn’t be ignored at the moment and are still just under US$85k/day round trip TCE level in the Mediterranean (TC6) and around US$57k/day round trip TCE in the Baltic (TC9).
VLCC
VLCC rates rose again this week. 280,000mt Middle East Gulf/USG (via Cape of Good Hope) is assessed four points higher at WS33 while rates for 270,000mt Middle East Gulf/China were up another five points to almost WS55 (a round trip TCE of minus US$10,600 per day). In the Atlantic, rates for 260,000mt West Africa/China saw a similar rise, improving by five points to just shy of WS56.5 (minus US$8,200 per day round-trip TCE). However, the rate for 270,000mt US Gulf/China voyage remained static at US$6,162,500 (a round-voyage TCE of minus US$15,900 per day).
Suezmax
Rates for 135,000mt Black Sea/Augusta remained the same again this week at the WS128-129 level (a round-trip TCE of US$23,800 per day). The 130,000mt Nigeria/UKC route, meanwhile, saw rates dip six points early on in the week and recovering to almost WS120 on Thursday (a round-trip TCE of about US$18,400 per day). In the Middle East, rates for the 140,000mt Basra/West Mediterranean fell seven points to WS57 with very little activity reported.
Aframax
The 80,000mt Ceyhan/Mediterranean market faced further downward pressure this week and rates were pushed down 16 points to just below WS165 (a round-trip TCE of about US$24,200 per day). Northern European activity tailed off and, as a result, rates for 80,000mt Hound Point/UK Continent lost 17 points to WS170 (a daily round-trip TCE of US$32,600). The 100,000mt Primorsk/UK Cont route showed an improvement of 11 points to WS186.5 (a round-trip TCE of US$41,500/day).
Across the Atlantic, the markets touched bottom and are bouncing back before the long weekend incorporating Independence Day. Rates for the 70,000mt EC Mexico/US Gulf route rocketed almost 39 points to between WS195/197.5 (a round-trip TCE of US$23,800 per day) and for 70,000mt Caribbean/US Gulf the rate shot up 33 points to just shy of WS190 (a round-trip TCE of about US$19,100 per day). For the transatlantic trip of 70,000mt US Gulf/UK Continent, rates were boosted by 30 points to almost WS183 (US$18,100 per day round-tip TCE).
