China’s iron ore imports in April were nearly flat from a year ago, customs data showed on Tuesday, surprising most analysts, as environmental curbs limiting steel production likely reduced demand for the steelmaking raw material. Iron ore imports rose slightly to 82.92 million tonnes last month, up 0.8 percent from 82.23 million tonnes a year ago, data from the General Customs of Administration showed. Iron ore imports slipped 3.3 percent from March, the data showed. Many analysts had expected an increase in imports on firm demand from steel mills in ...

Navios Maritime Partners L.P., an international owner and operator of container and drybulk vessels, today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018. Angeliki Frangou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Navios Partners stated, “I am pleased with the results for the first quarter of 2018, during which we reported net income of $5.5 million. During the quarter, we reinstated distributions at $0.08 per unit annually, representing an annualized current yield of about 4.0%. Our initial quarterly distribution of $0.02 cents per unit will be payable ...

Today, Tuesday, May 08 2018, the Baltic Dry Index climbed by 48 points, reaching 1432 points.

Highlights: The Panamax index remains in bearish territory and is now looking to test the long-term range support. The RSI and Stochastic are signalling a trending environment and we will need to see price action make a new high for the technical to be regarded as bullish. The May futures remain technically bearish. However, there are signs that momentum is slowing down based on price action and the 21 period RSI as we approach long the rolling contract support. The Q3 futures remains below its key averages which keeps the ...

Pilbara Ports Authority has delivered a total monthly throughput of 59.1 million tonnes (Mt) for the month of April 2018. This was an increase of 7% from the same month in 2017. The Port of Port Hedland achieved a monthly throughput of 43.7Mt. This was an increase of 2% from April 2017. Iron ore exports from the Port of Port Hedland totalled 42.6Mt, an increase of 1% from the April 2017. Imports through the Port of Port Hedland totalled 115,000 tonnes, an increase of 18% from the same month in ...

In Nakhodka, a fine dust pervades the air and blankets the streets like a black shroud. During winter, fresh snow turns dark and the frozen bay of the Russian Pacific port is covered with a thick layer of filth. The source of this pollution? The port terminals, where huge piles of coal lie in the open air, waiting to be shipped to Japan, South Korea, China and elsewhere across the Asia Pacific. “Even when the wind is not blowing, the coal dust easily reaches us. It is like living in ...

Capesize A positive end to the week for the big ships with gains particularly in the East, on the key West Australia/China run and the majors and operators in the market. Rates nudged the high-$7.00s for mid-May dates, and with two of the major Australian miners allegedly fixing six ships apiece on one day. A very well described 180,000 tonner, open Xiamen, fixing a West Australian round at $20,000 daily, and a 175,000 tonner, agreed $16,400 daily basis Qinhuangdao, delivery 7 May for similar business. There was also increased activity ...

Brazil’s soybean exports hit record volumes last month, grain exporter association Anec said on Thursday, citing a weak domestic currency and trade tensions between the United States and China for bolstering business for local farmers. Brazil’s April soybean exports reached 11.63 million tonnes, about 1 million tonnes more than the same month last year, Anec said in a report. “Evidently, with the strength of the dollar, the producer will free up more beans for export,” Sérgio Mendes, head of Anec, said in a telephone interview. Soy contracts are priced in ...

The Capesize index is technically bullish but has the potential to produce a bearish divergence on the 21 period RSI and the stochastic above USD 18,192. A close below USD 16,890 would create a lower signalling a corrective phase within a bullish trending environment. The May futures remain technically bullish having created a fresh market high. However, like the index we are seeing a bearish divergence in the market indicating a potential weakening in upside momentum. A mixed technical picture on the Q3 futures as price action is technically bullish, ...

Demand for U.S. soybeans remains strong, regardless of worries China could target the crop in retaliation over Trump administration tariffs. China has canceled several shipments of U.S. soybeans in the last month, raising questions over whether the country is taking preemptive action against the U.S. by reducing purchases. But analysts say the reduction is a minor amount and is not that surprising from a seasonal perspective. The “U.S. accounts for 37 percent of total soybean exports throughout the world. Beyond Brazil, there’s really nobody else,” said Rich Nelson, director of ...

Today, Friday, May 04 2018, the Baltic Dry Index climbed by 8 points, reaching 1384 points.

Capesize FFA Commentary: Capes took on a bullish tone in the morning session although most of the focus was on the prompt periods. Talk of improved rates in both basins was reflected in the indices but this failed to bring more buyers into the market in the afternoon session and subsequently the balance of the year, apart from May, ended the day in the red. Whether this is a temporary breather is unclear as there appears to be conflicting reports on what was fixing in the Pacific. Panamax FFA Commentary: ...

The Capesize segment’s benckmark status in the dry bulk market has been magnified over the course of the past couple of weeks. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Allied Shipbroking said that April was “a rather bizarre month for the Dry Bulk market, with plenty of volatility and sharp shifts in sentiment during a very short period, leaving most market participates with relatively perplexing views. At the onset of April the market was lingering in the doldrums, with the BDI having eased back to below the 1,000 basis points mark, ...

Bulk carrier owners are warned to pay extra attention to the basics in a new report issued by The Swedish Club. The Club has found that for bulk carrier operators, wet damage is the most costly claim type and the second most common claim that they experience. The report, Wet Damage on Bulk Carriers, which has been prepared in conjunction with DNV GL, and MacGregor, identifies heavy weather and leaking hatch covers as both the most common and the most costly type of wet damage claim. With the average cost ...

Twelve coal vessels departed key Colombian coal terminals in the week to Wednesday, up from nine in the previous week, with South America remaining the key destination, according to cFlow, Platts trade flow software. Three ships departed for southern Europe, down from four in the previous week, with one each going to Turkey, Portugal and Italy. The total tonnage of the vessels sailing was 1.42 million dwt, up from 1.08 million dwt the week before. Just one ship was seen headed to key Northwest Europe terminals Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp, ...