FEARNLEYS DRY BULK MARKET REPORT

Capsesize Trans Atlantic market has been pushed up till earlier this week. For vessels opened in North Atlantic, hire went up to 8500-9000 USD level for one TCT in Atlantic. With a bit fewer ballasters to Brazil, the Tubarao/Qingdao freight rate was also going up to high 9 USD. 20,000 USD/day was reported for vessel open in Atlantic for one trip via Narvik to PMO/Japan range. However, the Pacific side was not as positive as the Atlantic. Though rates went up to very high 4 USD for west Australia to Qingdao, and tc hire went up to 8000-9000 USD/day earlier, rates for west Australia to Qingdao dropped again sharply and quickly to low 4 USD. Panamax The Panamax market remained uninspired with little light for owners with open vessels in both basins.Lack of new fresh orders either coal, iron ore, bauxite, fertilizers or grain giving the charterers the upper hand to pick and choose out of open tonnage. North continent was the only exception where early prmpt ships found employment instead of ballasting. Atl paying typically from USD 2500/3000 p/d. Fronthaul from ECSA to Feast paying in the low 6 + 180.000 bb now. In the pacific we see falling activity and rates arnd 3000 USD. Period activity very limited with index heading against a new all time low. 4/8 months concluded at tic over 5000 daily. 1 year deals would probably pay arnd USD 5500 if concluded at all. Handy Supramaxes seem to have found a bottom. This is the case in both basins and although there is no effective period market, vessels are demanding slightly better numbers and getting same. The question is will it last and with the holiday season approaching we may see rates start to come off again as owners seek cover. Forward numbers are still under pressure, and although there is still some contango, there is not much freight optimism though next year.