THE BALTIC Dry Index ended this past week at 1948 on Friday 14 June. The index is up 81% against the same week last year (1076 on 16 June 2023).
Capesize
The Capesize’s had a slow start due to holidays in Asia, leading to subdued activity. Early in the week, the Pacific was quieter, with limited trading, leading to a slight dip in the C5 index and the BCI 5TC. The South Brazil and West Africa to China markets initially saw positive sentiment with a significant tightening of tonnage in ballast. As the week progressed, there was a decline in activity in the Pacific, particularly due to a shortage of coal cargoes from East Coast Australia. This led to a further drop in the C5 index and a further decline in the BCI 5TC.
However, the Atlantic market experienced a rise in cargo demand, and by Wednesday, several tender cargoes emerged, offering some support. A surge of fixtures occurred late in the day, particularly from South Brazil and West Africa to the Far East, leading to a very bullish market on Thursday. This activity caused substantial increases in the BCI 5TC by US$2,144 and the C3 index, with the latter soaring by US$1.42 to reach US$26.55. As the week comes to a close, a notable gap between bids and offers in the Atlantic has resulted in reduced market activity. This imbalance has also adversely affected the Pacific market, leading to a downturn. Consequently, the BCI 5TC has decreased by US$227, finishing the week at US$24,525.
Panamax
The Panamax market encountered significant rises this week. A strong demand push in the Atlantic was for the most part grain centric with decent levels of support found in both the North and South Americas particularly for first half July arrival dates.
Interestingly despite making big gains, the trans-Atlantic returned a two-tiered market with mineral business trading at a discount to the grain runs especially ex US East Coast and St Lawrence, where committed tonnage continued at heavily discount rates. An 82,000-dwt delivery Gibraltar agreed to a rate of US$18,000 for a grain trip via North Coast South America redelivery Skaw-Gibraltar whilst reports of a voyage cargo fixed ex St Lawrence to Continent at a timecharter equivalent of US$8,000 highlighting well the wide discrepancy. Indonesia coal demand appeared the main driver for the Pacific this week with plentiful activity and with an improving East Coast South America market, the South remained well supported.
Ultramax/Supramax
A story of two halves became evident as the week progressed. The Atlantic gained traction through out mainly led from the North Atlantic with better levels of fresh enquiry and limited prompt tonnage. A 63,000-dwt fixing from US East Coast to West Coast India in the upper US$20,000s From the South Atlantic the upward curve was slightly more sedate but still stronger numbers were being discussed.
A 56,000-dwt fixed delivery East Coast South America for a trip to the central Mediterranean in the mid US$20,000s. That being said, the Asian arena struggled, brokers spoke of little fresh cargo from South East Asia and little excitement from North Pacific and Australasia adding to owners’ woes. An Ultramax was heard fixed basis delivery Hong Kong for a trip via Indonesia redelivery Vietnam at US$15,000. Further north, a 63,000-dwt open North China fixed a North Pacific round in the upper US$15,000s. The Indian Ocean also lacked much fresh impetus although a 61,000-dwt fixed a trip delivery Port Elizabeth redelivery China at US$21,000 plus US$210,000 ballast bonus.
Handysize
A week of change across both basins as the Handysize market saw a new breath of life breathed into the US Gulf with a 38,000-dwt fixing basis Southwest Passage for two to three laden legs with a minimum of 75 days duration to Singapore-Japan at US$16,850 whilst a 39,000-dwt fixed from Tampico via the US to Morocco with a cargo of coal at US$15,000. The Mediterranean similarly saw improvements with a 38,000-dwt fixing from Damietta to the South Atlantic with Steels at US$8,000 whilst a 34,000-dwt was rumored to have fixed from Antalya to the US Gulf with steels in the US$8,000’s. In Asia, activity was muted with holidays and a lack of fresh enquiry in general, a 37,000-dwt fixed from Mikawa to South East Asia with a cargo of steel slabs at US$11,500 whilst an open hatched boxed shaped 33,000-dwt was fixed from Ichihara to West Coast India to Arabian Gulf at US$16,500.
Clean
LR2
MEG LR2’s saw a mixed reaction on freight levels this week. The TC1 rate for 75kt MEG/Japan recovered four points to WS200.56 while the 90kt MEG/UK-Continent TC20 voyage fell by US$168,750 to US$5,925,000.
West of Suez, the Mediterranean/East LR2’s did not fare well either, the TC15 index was reduced by US$216,666 to a little over US$3.8 million.
LR1
In the MEG, LR1 freight was lower. The 55kt MEG/Japan index of TC5 falling 11 points to just below WS230. The 65kt MEG/UK-Continent of TC8 lost US$193,050 to just above US$4.41 million.
On the UK-Continent, a 60kt ARA/West Africa run on TC16 has lost four points this week to WS157.78 taking the Baltic TCE for the run to about US$27,500 per day round trip.
MR
MR’s in the MEG took a tumble this week, but from heady heights. The TC17 35kt MEG/East Africa fell from WS365 to WS337 (showing a daily TCE of about US$40,000 per day round trip)
On the UK-Continent MR’s, the 37kt ARA/US-Atlantic coast of TC2 recovered 22 points to WS163.44 which translates to a Baltic round trip TCE of US$16,642 per day and the TC19 run (37kt ARA/West Africa) climbed 23 points to WS184.69.
Across the Atlantic, the MR’s continued downwards with TC14 (38kt US-Gulf/UK-Continent) collapsing 74 points to WS136.43 (about US$12,300 per day basis a round trip TCE). The 38kt US Gulf/Brazil on TC18 went fell 70 points to WS212.86 (a daily round trip TCE of US$26,327) and the 38kt US-Gulf/Caribbean of TC21 dropped by over 41% to US$680,000.
Handymax
In the Mediterranean, 30kt Cross Mediterranean (TC6) continued to take a beating with the market reducing by 33 points to WS178.89 (a round trip TCE now of a little under US$20,000 per day). Up in North West Europe, the TC23 30kt Cross UK-Continent went from WS180 to WS167.5.
VLCC
The VLCC market continued heading downwards this week with the rate for the benchmark 270,000 mt Middle East Gulf to China falling a further two points to WS51.10 which provides a daily round-trip TCE of US$28,577 basis the Baltic Exchange’s vessel description.
In the Atlantic, here too the market was softer. The 260,000 mt West Africa to China was almost two points lower than last Friday at WS56.56 showing a round voyage TCE of US$34,982 per day, and the rate for 270,000 mt US Gulf to China fell by US$305,000 to US$8,215,000 corresponding to a round-trip daily TCE of US$40,050.
Suezmax
The Suezmax market in West Africa outlook reversed the recent drop this week, helped in part by a firming Suezmax market in the US Gulf and Caribbean region. The rate for 130,000 mt Nigeria to UK Continent regained five points to WS113.72 (a daily round-trip TCE of US$58,800). In the Mediterranean and Black Sea region the rate hovered around the WS123 level for the 135,000 mt CPC/Mediterranean route (showing a daily TCE of about US$50,000 round-trip). In the Middle East, the rate for 140,000 mt Middle East Gulf to the Mediterranean (via the Suez Canal) is assessed four points lower than last Friday at around WS100.
Aframax
In the North Sea, the rate for the 80,000 mt Cross-UK Continent gained another two points to WS174.17 (a daily round-trip TCE of US$67,741 basis Hound Point to Wilhelmshaven).
In the Mediterranean market the rate for 80,000 mt Cross-Mediterranean lost another 19 points to WS162.72 (basis Ceyhan to Lavera, that shows a daily round trip TCE of US$45,784).
Across the Atlantic, rates continue to climb albeit not as sharply as in previous weeks. For the 70,000 mt East Coast Mexico/US Gulf (TD26) the rate was a solitary point firmer at WS246.88 (a daily TCE of US$73,464 round trip) and the rate for 70,000 mt Covenas/US Gulf (TD9) was seven points up on last Friday’s rate at WS238.75 (a round-trip TCE of US$64,301 per day). The rate for the trans-Atlantic route of 70,000 mt US Gulf/UK Continent (TD25) rose by 17 points to WS228.61 (a round trip TCE basis Houston/Rotterdam of US$59,746 per day), which might just encourage some ballasters from Europe.
LNG
There was no hangover from Posidonia in the LNG shipping community, when everyone got back to their seats it was business as usual, the LNG spot market has continued its uptick in spot rates with both ships across all three routes seeing positive movement. There wasn’t a flood of reported fixtures, and indeed as any enquiry came out there were a surprising number of modern ships able to work them. This though hasn’t hampered any gains and in the Atlantic specifically we have seen a decent rise.
BLNG1 Australia to Japan on the 174cbm rose by US$2900, to a close of US$51,500 with a rise of US$4820 on the 160cbm and a close of US$39,800 as the delta narrowed ever so slightly. BLNG2 Houston to Continent shot up on the 174cbm rising by US$8,011 per day to US$64,400 widening the delta between the 160cbm which finished up US$5,498 at US$49,100. BLNG3 Houston-Japan saw rises between US$6,000-US$6,800 and the 174cbm finished at US$71,815 pulling away from the TFDE ship at US$57,100.
Period remains a point of interest and the 6-month finished up US$3,300 to US$98,300 while the 1-year term faltered slightly publishing down US$450 to US$84,150. The 3-year terms remain steady rising only US$600 to US$84,400.
LPG
Some significant correction in the LPG market this week both in the MEG and across the Atlantic. In the MEG BLPG1 suffered one of the biggest falls this year losing US$16.572 from a mid-week high to a final close of US$64,571, and a daily TCE earning equivalent of US$45,631. A tightening of the ARB and a plethora of ships available against very thin cargo enquiry has put owners on the back foot and those who are offering in are doing so considerably less than last time. Not much news to abate any further fall yet though brokers expect a stall in movement either direction.
For the BLPG2 and BLPG3 there was a similar story to that of BLPG1, though rates suffered more on BLPG3 Houston-Chiba than anywhere else. The ARB moving against the route and few fixtures pushed the index down by US$21.429 with most of the value lost in the final two days. A publication of US$118.714 gave a TCE earning equivalent of US$49,978. BLPG2 Houston-Flushing was as quiet as we have seen with no fixtures being reported and a fall of US$12 gave the index a close of US$66.6 and a daily TCE earning equivalent of US$67,838.
