Chartering - Handy
The Handy/Supra market has also experienced a very slow and soft start to the year. We see rates softening in both hemispheres and the TA market is now down to ard Usd 8,5k bss Cont delivery. Less USG cgos and a growing list of available tonnage causing rates to slip even further. In the Pacific there is hardly any coal cargo quoted and bss Spore delivery we see ships being fixed at tick below 8k for Indo rounds. The South African market is more alive with with fixtures being done at Usd 7k +150-200k GBB. The period market has plenty of takers, but at the levels they are talking the tonnage providers are gone.
Chartering - Panamax
The Panamax market took a dive before the Christmas holidays, and started off the new year with the same negative trend. We see transatlantic rounds being fixed in region of Usd 6-7k depening on delivery and duration. Voyage returns far less. However, we see some signs of improvement in the USG at time of writing, as more cargoes entered the market mid week and ships got fixed quickly. Owners are about to reject lower than last done, thus we may see rates turning up going forward. In the Pacific rates are softening all over. Australian rounds for end Jan/early Feb loading are being fixed on T/C Equivalent to USD 4,000 bss Spore delivery. The tonnage is in surplus and even though India are importing record amounts of coal – it does not reflect on the rates, for now at least. The period market is lacking support, and a modern Kamsarmax apparently have fixed poor 7,6k for 12/18 mos bss North China delivery.
Chartering - Capesize
The first week of 2015 has been more or less expected with disappointing levels still, although somewhat surprising the levels from last year actually could drop further; Like West Australia rounds are now being concluded closer to mid 4s pmt. Fronthaul business is still non existing more or less, with one fixture being concluded during Christmas around the 10 mark. Period activity remains low, but more index linked fixtures are expected.
The first week of 2015 has been more or less expected with disappointing levels still, although somewhat surprising the levels from last year actually could drop further; Like West Australia rounds are now being concluded closer to mid 4s pmt. Fronthaul business is still non existing more or less, with one fixture being concluded during Christmas around the 10 mark. Period activity remains low, but more index linked fixtures are expected.