Dry bulk edged furher up, on healthy demand for most ship types

Thursday, 29 March 2012 |
With capesize vessels finally reappearing in demand, the dry bulk market had an easier task of rising yesterday, as the BDI (Baltic Dry Index) reached 922 points, up by 0.55% on the day. The Capesize market gained 0.52% to reach 1,361 points, while small gains were also evident in the Panamax segment (0.48%) and the Handysize one (0.35%). By contrast, the Supramax market, which had been leading the gains so far and is now at levels higher than the Panamax one (which is another abnormality of the market), retreated marginally yesterday to reach 1.054 points.

Commenting on the Capesize market, shipbroker Fearnleys said in its latest weekly report, issued yesterday, that “although spot fixing has increased significantly over the last week, it is worthy of notion that same has had little or no effect on levels paid. Major miners have booked numerous prompt units for both WAust and Brazil, but with an extremely overtonnaged market there is always another unit ready and keen to accept last done. The overall trend is drifting ever closer to zero for operators - and already negative value for head owners. With expensive bunkers combined with no short-term hope of improvement, an overwhelming number of ships now pile up around Singapore instead of ballasting towards the west. Softening paper levels are hurting period activity/rates - recent fixtures including 173kdwt/blt 2007 China mid April done for 11-13 months at USD 11k” said Fearnleys.

Similarly, it went on to state that the “Panamax market had a slow week with owners struggling to find employment for their vessels. With a scarce amount of requirements in the market, and the ECSA cargoes still being the main driver. Decent rates can still be achieved, and we´ve seen vessels fixing 17k+ 685k for trip to the F.East on an APS ECSA basis. Limited activity in the east with few fixtures reported. The amount of open tonnage is increasing, however rates are still stable and north Pacific RV´s are paying around USD 8k daily for vessels delivering in North China. Aussie/China is fixing around USD 7k, and Indo rounds around USD 8-8.5k.

India/China is fixing around USD 13K. In the Atlantic, Baltic rounds were reportedly fixing at USD 8k. A few TA fixtures were reported, but little emerged regarding the rates achieved by owners. Seems USEC and USG requirements are covered on an aps basis and USD 10k + USD 325k was reported for a vessel performing a trip from USG with redelivery in the Mediterranean” said Fearnleys.

Regarding the Supramax market, shipbroker Shiptrade Services stated that “in the Atlantic Basin this week started with good omens as many fresh requirements came into the market especially from USG and ECSA. The petcoke charterers are still there as well as the coal players. What changed the market dramatically during this week is the fact that some iron ore cargoes from West Africa offered employment to vessels who opened there after discharging steels and bagged commodities. This sent ballasters from West Med to ECSA and consequently rates were dramatically improved from USG and ECSA respectively. We learnt that 57,ooo dwt vessel got 17,000 dop Turkey for trip to East. In the Pacific basin the market remains firm and the rates from Indonesia to India closed at USD low-mid teens region basis delivery South China. Nickel ore charterers , had to to pay a premium so supramax vessels able to carry Nickel ore could definitely get mid teens bss delivery South China for trips back to the North of China” it said in its report.

On the Handy front according to Fearnleys, “Atlantic market kept more or less stable throughout last week, with fresh cargoes able to short the list of idle ships. Cont/US Gulf fixed tick above USD 4k, while US Gulf/Cont paid close to USD 17,500. Fronthauls hovering around USD 14,400 per day. Pacific market has remained quiet but steady. For Indo-India, large eco Supra can fetch close to USD 22k basis APS Indonesia. Premium cargoes like nickel ore are also seen fixed at USD 13k dely North China. Nopac fixed around USD 11k dop Japan. Indian iron ore market remains quiet with less activity on WCI & ECI. WCI-China rates around USD 11k and ECI-China around USD 8k. Some ECI Supras have been ballasting to pick up indo cargoes as well. RBCT rv fixed at APS USD 13k + BB USD 400k. Red Sea fertilisers to India are fixed high teens. Not much activity seen on short period and rates are around USD 12k for large Supra” concluded Fearnleys.

Source : Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide