The dry bulk market kept falling yesterday, on lower iron ore demand, which has caused the industry’s benchmark, the BDI (Baltic Dry Index) to plunge to more than one-month lows, ending the session down to 1,859 points, or by 2.77%.

All shipping segments were down yesterday, with the Capesize market sustaining the biggest losses by 3.23%. The Panamax market was down by 1.20%.

According to the latest report from Shiptrade Services, after the previous weeks’ steady increase, the market turned downwards with Capesizes suffering the most. Commenting on the Capesize market, it mentioned that “the week began positively, but lack of cargoes in the Pacific forced Owners to lower their levels, or start ballasting towards the Atlantic.

Atlantic basin was active, with good cargo volume mostly coming ex Brazil.

Rates for Transatlantic rounds concluded at USD 34.000 per day, while on the Fronthaul trade, rates for trips to F.East, levels concluded at USD 49.000 per day. On the Tubarao/Qingdao trade rates were fluctuating between USD 30.00 – 30.50 pmt but week’s closing rates softened as an effect of the ballasters from the Pacific.

Pacific basin was quiet due to the absence of the iron ore majors but Owners could see a few alternative cargoes ex S.Africa / W.Canada. Rates softened, and at weeks closing, rates for the Australia/China trade concluded at USD 11.00pmt, while on TCT basis, rates for Pacific round concluded at USD 25.000 per day basis N.China delivery” said Shiptrade.

In a separate report Fearnley’s said that “after a relatively long period with improving rates, the Cape market experiences a correction mid last week. Rates kept dropping throughout this week, with West Australia/China being done just bellow usd 10 pmt. Tubarao/Qingdao was done last week around usd 32 pmt, the lowest done this week is just below usd 25 pmt. The drop in spot rates has resulted in less period activity with chrtrs aiming around mid teens, a level perceived to be of non interest to the owners. The rest of the week is remained to be quiet with Eisbein going on in Germany” said the report.

On the Panamax front, the Nordic-based shipbroker it said “fair activity with mineral requirements in the North Atlantic from USEC and Baltic catering for healthy levels as market is tight for prompt loaders. Fixing levels in the 20´s for Baltic rounds, upper teens for TA rounds. Less activity and weakness in the USG and ECSA from an increasing number of
ballasters appears from the Med and Far East. Levels for trip out hovering in the 26 + 600 range basis APS. In the Far East activity is low, tonnage lists grow, and rates are under downward pressure. NOPAC rounds 12500, period activity scant. The general sentiment is losing confidence from a slow and descending forward market” said Fearnley’s.

Shiptrade Services mentioned that “Panamax rates dropped slightly since the cargo volume was not enough to cover the available tonnage. In the Atlantic basin, the USG market remained the driving force, especially for the Fronthaul cargoes with fixtures at USD 26.500+650.000 GBB basis APS USG. Rates for Transatlantic round remained at USD 17.500 - 18.000 per day. In the Pacific basin activity remained flat with many Charterers waiting for rates to drop further. At week’s closing, rates for S.China/S.E.Asia positions interested for

Indonesia round, concluded at USD 14.000 – 14.500 per day. Positions at N.china/Japan range interested for trips ex NOPAC could get USD 13-14.500 per day” said Shiptrade.

On the Supramax trades the Piraeus-based shipbroker mentioned that “the market followed the same trend, with less cargoes and rates dropping. In the Atlantic basin, we could notice a decrease in the number of cargoes, but some areas were more attractive. In the USG region rates for trip to continent/East Mediterranean remained steady close to USD 30.000 per day, while for trips to F.East fixtures reported at USD 38.000 per day.

On the Mediterranean/Bl.Sea market, rates for trips to F.East held around USD 24 - 25.000per day, while rates for trips to USG were between USD 9 -10.000per day. On the ECSA region, vessels concluded at rates close to USD 18-19.000per day + 400.000 ballast bonus basis APS ECSA delivery for trips to F.East, and for trips to Continent/Med rates concluded at USD 16-17.000per day. In the pacific basin, rates dropped, as there were not many cargoes from Indonesia, and many Charterers preferred not to move and see how the market will proceed.

Some fixtures concluded to direction India but levels were fluctuating between USD 8.000 – 11.000per day. On the other hand, for the N.China positions, a few cargoes ex NOPAC remained an attractive solution at rates of USD 12.000per day (M/V Prabhu Jivesh 50956 / 02’)” concluded the shipbroker.
Source: Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping