The Baltic Exchange, the world’s independent source of maritime market data, has issued its reports for the last week, 14-18 December 2020, to provide information of the tanker and bulk 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
- In the Middle East 280,000mt to US Gulf via the Cape/Cape routing remain around WS17.5, while 270,000mt to China saw a few fixtures early on at WS34, then WS34.5 and up to WS35 which is where rates are now assessed.
- In the Atlantic, rates flattened at WS35 for 260,000mt West Africa to China, and for voyages of 270,000mt US Gulf to China values dipped $30k to just under $4.7m.
-Suezmax
- In the 135,000mt Black Sea/Med market we saw rates soften one point to WS53.5, while rates for 130,000mt Nigeria/UK Continent eased 2.5 points to WS39 with reports this morning of a Spanish charterer fixing on subjects at WS38.5, albeit to Spain.
- In the Middle East market, 140,000mt Basrah/Med voyages are now assessed 25% lower at WS11.5 on the back of reports of Turkish charterers fixing at WS10 and Italian charterers at a slightly higher rate.
-Aframax
- In Northern Europe voyages of 80,000mt cross-North Sea and 100,000mt Baltic/UKContinent saw rates flat at low WS70s and WS45 respectively.
- Across the Atlantic, rates rebounded with 70,000mt Carib to US Gulf now at WS70, a rise of 17.5 points, and 70,000mt US Gulf to UK Continent climbing to high WS60s showing a gain of nearly 20 points.
-Clean
- The Middle East Gulf/Japan had a solid week with rates for 75,000mt nudging up around two points to WS90.
- In the Atlantic trade, the 37,000mt UKContinent/USAC route lost 15 points to WS70 although the backhaul trip of 38,000mt from US Gulf to UK Continent gained 10 points plus to WS55.
Bulk carriers
-Capesize
- The North Atlantic also joined in proceedings, with decent fixing volume, predominantly on the C7 Transatlantic round – with NYK fixing a Mittal 150,000mt Port Cartier to Fos lifting at $11.00, which the market was quick to equate to an approximate $20,000 timecharter equivalent.
- The C5 West Australia round was a little slower to pick up and, with some of the majors absent, it only rose by 33 cents on the week to reach $7.24 – capped also by many owners not wishing to sell spot levels too far into the New Year.
-Panamax
- In the Atlantic, the North stood firm to begin the week with solid mineral demand. But rates slowly eroded parallel to demand, $15,000 concluded on an 82,000-dwt delivery Gibraltar for a US east coast trans-Atlantic trip towards the latter part of the week.
- In Asia, the market here was essentially Indonesia coal centric, with solid demand to China throughout the week with fixtures agreed on numerous occasions at circa $15,000 for 82,000-dwt. However, support appeared to wane as we approached the weekend.
-Ultramax/Supramax
- In the Atlantic, the US Gulf remained firm with Ultramax size seeing in the low $20,000s for trips to the east Mediterranean and in the upper $20,000s for trips to the east.
- East coast south American was tempered, but a 61,000-dwt fixed a trans Atlantic run in the mid teens.
-Handysize
- The US Gulf remained firm throughout the week with positive influence from Supramax / Ultramax. Despite tonnage appearing tight in the area, brokers saw pressure to fix with holidays approaching.
- Compared with the Mediterranean, the market was described to be more Continent driven this week with more support lent.
