The Baltic Exchange, the world’s independent source of maritime market data, has issued its reports for the last week, 10-14 Feb 2020, to provide information of the bulk and dry market performance. The information is used by shipbrokers, owners & operators, traders, financiers and charterers as a reliable and independent view of the dry and tanker markets.
Tankers – VLCC
- Chinese refiners continuing to slow imports, allied with the impact of the Coronavirus
- Rates for 270,000mt to China bounced around the WS 40 level
- The 280,000mt market to US Gulf, via the Cape/Cape routing remained flat, at WS 30.
Tankers – Suezmax
- Rates for 130,000mt West Africa/UK-Continent remained unmoved and in the high WS 80s for most of the week.
- Rates for 135,000mt Black Sea/Mediterranean remained static, at low-to-mid WS 90s.
- Basrah/Greece cargo reportedly covered at the equivalent of WS35.
Tankers – Aframax
- Rates for 80,000mt Ceyhan/Mediterranean is worth WS 85, 16% more than the previous week.
- Rates for 80,000mt Cross-North Sea gained 37 points.
- Rates for 100,000mt Baltic/UKC increased by 28 points.
Tankers – Clean
- Middle East Gulf/Japan trade for 75,000mt remained steady in very low WS 80s.
- Rates for 37,000mt UKC to USAC trade decreased to WS 150, leading the transatlantic market in the low-mid WS 150s.
- US Gulf/UKC rates remained steady with 38,000mt rates.
Bulk carrier – Capesize
The Coronavirus, rail flooding in East Australia and tropical cyclone in West Australia the market reached low.
- West Australia was quiet and the market’s activity opened the week at $5.75 closing at $5.595.
- Capesize 5TC opened the week at $2,660 to close out at $2,445.
Bulk carrier – Panamax
- From east coast South America to the Far East, the median rate appeared at around $12,250+$225,000 ballast bonus at the start of the week and had increased to $13,300+$330,000 ballast bonus by the end.
- In Asia, having potential implications by the Coronavirus, the North Pacific round trip being agreed at $4,350 for 82,000dwt, whilst some owners were discounting rates for quick and repositioning trips with $6,500+$65,000 ballast bonus getting done for an Indonesia to China run.
Bulk carrier – Supramax/Ultramax
- East Coast South America began with poor levels with a 56,000dwt ship being fixed in the upper $2,000’s for a transatlantic run. Later, a 51,000dwt ship was fixed at around $7,000 for similar run.
- Mediterranean remained stable, while the US Gulf was said to have a little more enquiry as the week closed.
- The Indian Ocean saw slight improvement, with a 52,000dwt ship fixing at $7,000 delivery Arabian Gulf redelivery East Coast India.
Bulk carrier – Handysize
- East Coast South America led the decline in the market, while the Pacific market remained weak.
- A mid-sized was failed on subjects basis passing Ushant for trip to China at mid high $8,000s with some waiting on the owner’s account.
- A 33,000-dwt was fixed from Canakkale for a trip with grain to Ireland at $3,500.
The full reports are available on Baltic Exchange’s website, under related category. Namely, the Baltic Exchange information is based on assessments made by a global panel of shipbrokers, covering voyage and timecharter rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize bulk carriers; VLCC, aframax & MR tankers, LPG and LNG vessels as well as forward assessments, vessel values, market reports & fixtures and demolition values.
