Dry Bulk Market: Capesizes on Stabilization Mode
Capesize
The market traded in a relatively stable supported manner in the Pacific this week while the Atlantic experienced weakening turbulence. Fixture activity was strong in both basins with trade executed generally on a voyage priced basis. The 5TC opened the week at $26,382 before closing on a slightly down note Friday at $25,117. The Brazil to China C3 was the big mover this past week opening at $23.782 to close down at $20.945. The Pacific C5 market continued to trade in a limited range opening at $9.227 to end out the week on a positive at $9.114.
Discussions continue to be heard regarding vessels cleaning fuel tanks in preparation for IMO 2020. Vessels going out on timecharter are needing to consider what fuel the vessel is being returned with, whilst ideally having a good indication of where that will be for bunkering considerations. Some have been heard to give favorable prices for bunkers on delivery to entice trade. While traders are well versed in bunker planning, the IMO’s hard deadline is problematic for the inherent variability of shipping schedules. The added complexity will surely turn up more issues over the coming months.
Panamax
The positive trend from last week did not continue, with both basins showing signs of softening since Tuesday. Despite east coast South America market, limited activity was reported from the rest of Atlantic with some principal accounts using their own tonnage for loading their own cargoes.
In the East, brokers saw decent amount of cargoes, but the fixing rates remained relatively flat due to ample supply of vessels. Kamsarmax vessels were fixed in the $16,000s level plus a ballast bonus in the $600,000s for a trip via east coast South America back to the Far East whilst some similar-sizes were also reportedly done in the $17,000s with ballast bonus in the $700,000s for a similar run. However, whether the stem was of end October dates or early/mid November, dates made a difference with the bunker price being a crucial factor as well. In the East, there were reports of Kamsarmax vessels fixing in the mid $16,000s for a Nopac round voyage basis delivery mid China and in the range of $13,000-$15,000 for an Indonesia run basis delivery south China.
Supramax/Ultramax
The US Gulf market weakened the most with the transatlantic route S4A falling over $750/day from the end of last week. ADMI fixed a 63,000 dwt for grains to Continent at around the $18,000 level. Trips to India/Asia came off a shade too: XO Shipping fixed the Spar Pyxis (63,800dwt, 2015) for US Gulf petcoke to India at $31,000. Rates from South America seemed to hold up. Norden fixed the Ocean Andre (63,647 2017) open Aratu for a trip to the Far East at $46,500 + $650,000 and Cargill was linked to a Tess 58 open Rio Grande end October at $16,000 + $600,000 bb. In Asia trips from the Singapore area were paying between $14,000 and $16,000, depending on the vessel size and duration.
Handysize
There was a softer feel during this week on most of the routes. Tonnage open W Mediterranean/N Continent did not seem to have much choice of cargo. Clipper fixed the Maas Confidence (34,914dwt, 2016) open Setubal prompt for a trip with steels to Tampa/Veracruz at $11,000.
The was good activity in the Black Sea/Mediterranean, for trips within the region as well as destinations like West Africa, where a 46,000 dwt managed a rate in the low $16,000’s earlier in the week. At the end of the week the smaller size vessel Friendly Island (28,387dwt, 2012) fixed delivery Constanza for a trip to Egypt or Turkish Mediterranean at $12,000. Rates in Asia remained relatively flat and whilst the indices lost a little value, some brokers still felt they should remain steady.
Source: The Baltic Briefing