Chartering - Handy
A softer tone for rates and volumes for the Supramaxes, perhaps less apparent in the Pacific the last week before the season holidays and good old Santa arrives. USG seems to loose steam with trip to Cont at around USD 14.000 and tick higher to WAFR (West Africa). Scrap from Continent typically around USD 13.000, for Owners who once in the Med will struggle as the list of open tonnage is growing steadily. ECSA activity still there, but at unexciting levels short of USD 13,000 + USD 300K BB. Pacific volumes has been holding better and with far volumes. USD 11.000 for Indo Rounds to South China/Thailand/Vietnam from Singapore. USD 13.000 achievable to India and 16.000 if delivery Singapore. Fertilizers from China to India fixable around USD 15.000. Period levels at Low USD 11.000 for Ultramax and below USD 10.000 for standard size.
A softer tone for rates and volumes for the Supramaxes, perhaps less apparent in the Pacific the last week before the season holidays and good old Santa arrives. USG seems to loose steam with trip to Cont at around USD 14.000 and tick higher to WAFR (West Africa). Scrap from Continent typically around USD 13.000, for Owners who once in the Med will struggle as the list of open tonnage is growing steadily. ECSA activity still there, but at unexciting levels short of USD 13,000 + USD 300K BB. Pacific volumes has been holding better and with far volumes. USD 11.000 for Indo Rounds to South China/Thailand/Vietnam from Singapore. USD 13.000 achievable to India and 16.000 if delivery Singapore. Fertilizers from China to India fixable around USD 15.000. Period levels at Low USD 11.000 for Ultramax and below USD 10.000 for standard size.
Chartering - Panamax
A quiet week in general for both hemispheres. As predicted the activity slowed down and so have the rates. In Atlantic owners, running after employment in order to cover their spot vessel’s over Christmas and new year. Charterers use the competitive levels and bringing January cargoes in the market this week. The few prompt Atlantic cargoes being fixed at very sharp levels. Short Baltic rounds covered in the low USD 9000. Same goes for Front haul cargoes ex USG covered in the low 14,000 region. While South America to FEAST (Far East) grain paid tic less USD 12,500-13,000 range. Pacific rounds covered in the high USD 6,000 low USD 7,000 range and sliding further. Almost no period deals fixed as charterers expect it will be cheaper tomorrow.
Chartering - Capesize
Another painful week in the Cape segment. Faith has all but disappeared and owners are now willing to conclude one year period deals at mid/upper USD 12,000’s which reflects the forward paper. The activity in the Pacific is slower, and rates for West Australia are now just above USD 5.00. Activity in the Atlantic is almost non-existent and time charter rounds have been concluded at below USD 4,000 daily. Any fresh cargo is almost immediately fixed, and there are too many spot vessels off South Africa for any near term hope on the Brazil to China route. On the other hand we are at levels where the market cannot fall significantly further and we now see several owners not willing to trade.!
Another painful week in the Cape segment. Faith has all but disappeared and owners are now willing to conclude one year period deals at mid/upper USD 12,000’s which reflects the forward paper. The activity in the Pacific is slower, and rates for West Australia are now just above USD 5.00. Activity in the Atlantic is almost non-existent and time charter rounds have been concluded at below USD 4,000 daily. Any fresh cargo is almost immediately fixed, and there are too many spot vessels off South Africa for any near term hope on the Brazil to China route. On the other hand we are at levels where the market cannot fall significantly further and we now see several owners not willing to trade.!