Capesize (Atlantic and Pacific)
The Capesize market registered a quite volatile week with a softening first part of the week followed by a quick improvement in the end, especially in Atlantic and for the cargoes out of Brazil. In Pacific rates dropped from the low $6's showed during the previous week, to around $5.45/mt for end January dates, however the sentiment for the next week is for an improvement of rates. The Saldanha Bay/Qingdao route was fixed around mid/low $9's for very end January. The standard route from Brazil to China was pretty quiet with better numbers done at the end of the week with $13/mt fixed for Pepel (Sierra Leone) to China. After very low numbers agreed, such as $6.85/mt for Bolivar/Rotterdam for very early February dates equivalent to around $10,000/d, in Atlantic the market turned and the TransAtlantic with ppt dely UKC was agreed at a strong $14,750/$15,000/d, while the standard C7 route for first half of February was agreed in the mid $7's. The period business was very active with several Capes fixed for one year bss dely F East ppt with rates between $10,500/d and $12,000/d depending on vessels description.
Panamax (Atlantic and Pacific)
Last week the market maintained good levels throughout the Atlantic area as seen from levels achieved in Cont where a 79,000 dwt was reported fixed for trip via Baltic to R Sea with redely Passero at $10,750/d bss Rotterdam. Trips to F.East were also being reported on a 73,000 dwt fixing $17,000/d for trip via St. Petersburg to Spore-Japan range bss Dunkirk dely, while 2-3 ll have been fixed on a 76,000 dwt bss dely Wilhelmshaven and redely F East at $12,000/d. Similar size was reported fixed at $14,500/d bss Aughinish for trip via USG to Skaw-Passero redely, a 95,000 dwt was reported fixed basis USG dely to Cont at $11,000/d + $200,000 bb, while for trip via NCSA another 76,000 dwt fixed bss Gijon at $11,500/d redely Skaw-Passero. A kamsarmax vessel was fixed for fronthaul trip to India at $15,500/d basis UK dely via USEC. ECSA market maintained good levels but the impression is that the vessels ballasting towards the area from F East could lower the levels in the area. Kamsarmax vessel was reported fixed at $9,500/d + $450,000 bb for trip via ECSA to F East while a 76,000 dwt fixed for similar trip tick below, being done at $9,300/d + $430,000 bb. Bss Karaikal dely an 82,000 dwt was reported fixed at $8,750/d for trip via ECSA to F East while a 76,000 dwt fixed similar trip at $7,750/d bss Spore dely. A 93,000 dwt was fixed at $14,000/d for trip via ECSA to Skaw-Passero. In F East levels were still on the lower side with 87,000 dwt being fixed for dely Taiwan for trip via Indo to China at $6,000/d while an 81,000 dwt fixed Spore dely via Indo to Hong Kong at $7,550/d, similar levels were reported on a 78,000 dwt for trip via NoPac to Spore-Japan at $7,750/d. A 77,000 dwt was reported fixed at $7,000/d for trip via Cai Lan dely for trip via EC Australia to Japan, while on the period front an 82,000 dwt fixed bss CJK dely $8,500/d for 1 year period, and a similar size was reported fixed at $9,000/d bss Haldia dely for 4-7 mos.
Handy (Far East/Pacific)
The Pacific waters showed again freight levels very bad for the owners. Furthermore, an increase in available tonnage in addition to a chartering interest limited to the local trades, the charterers were reported grabbing this opportunity for keeping the rates lower and lower. A 53,000 size delivering at loading port fixed a trip with coal to S China at $5,250/d plus $40,000 bb and a larger non-eco types Supramax delivering at Thailand got $4,200/d for a similar trip. An Ultramax was booked at $4,000/d from N China to SE Asia and, on a similar trade, a 53,000 size got $3,000/d. Still with delivery at N China, a fancy Handymax was agreed for a backhaul trip to North Europe at $4,350/d for the first 65 days and $7,000/d for balance duration. Ukrainian operators booked a fancy Ultramax for 5 to 9 months period at $9,400/d with delivery at Chile.
Handy (North Europe/Mediterranean)
Grain shipments from the B Sea showed a lowering trend penalizing, as a consequence, Supramax fronthaul rates and Handysize trades with Atlantic discharge. The week started with an Ultramax reported done from B Sea to Spain at $9,750/d, afterwards a 51,000 size was reported agreed at $6,100/d from E Med to N Europe. A 55,000 dwt from Iskenderun to the USG got $7,500/d, while a slightly smaller vessel delivering Egyptian Med booked a trip to ECS America at $5,750/d for the first 50 days and $8,500/d for the balance duration. More interesting was the $8,500/d plus $85,000 bb which operators paid to a 32,000 dwt delivering at Aden for a trip from B Sea and to Spore-Japan range. From N Europe a Supramax carrying scrap was fixed from Belgium to the E Med at $12,000/d, while an Ultramax got $15,000/d from same area to the MEG. Grains were loaded on a 34,000 unit delivering at N France to perform a trip to W Africa at $10,250/d.
Handy (USA/N.Atlantic/Lakes/S.America)
Rates for cargoes loading out of the USG and NCSA remained on levels similar to the previous week, while a slight decrease was seen from ECSA, even if a good number of vessels have been fixed all the areas. A Supramax trip from NCSA was agreed at $17,500/d with a vessel delivering at Texas. Only few boats were booked from the USG to the F East, including a fancy 58,000 dwt getting $16,800/d near to a non-eco 56,000 unit agreeing $15,000/d. From this area a 63,000 Ultramax, likely loading grains, fixed a trip to Aqaba with redely at Port Said at $14,750/d. Petcoke to N Spain was loaded on a 57,000 dwt which agreed $15,000/d, a 63,500 dwt delivering Texas was agreed for 8/12 mos period redely WW at $9,800/d and a nice 32,000 vessel was booked from this area to WCCA at $14,000/d. From ECSA a 60,000 dwt booked a trip to F East at $12,100/d plus $210,000 bb and a Tess 53 carrying a cargo to Mombasa was fixed at $13,000/d with redely passing Durban. On the TA trade a 53,000 dwt was done from Paranagua to lower Baltic at $11,250/d and an Ultramax got $11,000/d from Recalada to the Med. In the area a 38,000 dwt was fixed at $12,000/d to the W Med and a 33,000 dwt got same rates to Portugal.
Handy (Indian Ocean/South Africa)
Trading remained active in these waters with best rates still seen agreed for trips loading from the MEG. For loading in the area two 56,000 size sister vessels were taken with dely WC India and redely China, one at $10,000/d and the other at $9,500/d. For a similar trade a 32,000 dwt was taken with delivery Aden at $8,000/d plus $85,000 bb. Trips from WC India to China showed a fancy 58,000 dwt done at $8,200/d and a standard 56,000 dwt fixed at $7,150/d. A similar vessel delivering India was agreed for 2/3 LL redely F East at $7,200/d.
Banchero Costa and Co Spa
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