Baltic Exchange: Maritime market highlights 16-22 April

Capesize

After several weeks of relatively flat price movement, the Capesize 5TC market has started to show a little positive sentiment with levels pushed to $15,299. Fixture activity on the whole has not been very eventful, yet the Pacific C5 West Australia to Qingdao route was up +0.773 today to $10.741 and has steadily improved over the week.

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Meanwhile, the cargo to vessel ratio in the Atlantic is said to have tightened – especially for prompt positions. The transatlantic C8 has risen +2250 week on week, to settle now at $11,625. Further south in the Atlantic from Brazil, the voyage route C3 Brazil to China currently prices at $26.04 as activity is ticking over although is largely underwhelming. The Capesize market is definitely improving in sentiment, which is a welcome sight for many. However, with the dark shadow of the lockdown situation in Shanghai hanging over all the shipping markets, the Capesize main destination market is unable to fire on all cylinders placing somewhat of a cap on trade at this time.

Panamax

It was a limited week of trading due to Easter holidays in many regions. A gradual decline across all rates in the Atlantic this week was caused by minimal fresh demand with wide disparity between the bid/offer spread throughout the week. Those owners forced to fix prior to the weekend reluctantly reduced offers with Charterers seemingly holding firm.

Typically, the transatlantic round trips hovered around the $27,000 mark with several deals concluded at or around this level. Asia similarly returned a lethargic week overall, with something of a split two-tier market. The Southern region was largely under pressure, with many smaller/overage ships discounting rates for the limited Indonesia coal trips. Further North, there were glimpses of support found ex NoPac as well as the coal trips ex Australia to India, highlighted by an 82,000-dwt delivery China agreeing a rate of $25,000 for a NoPac trip and a 74,000-dwt delivery China fixing $15,500 for a trip via Indonesia redelivery Vietnam.

Ultramax/Supramax

With many countries enjoying Easter celebrations, the information flow was rather slow. However, key areas saw increased positive sentiment with demand returning from the US Gulf and Asia. Period cover was sought and an Ultramax open China was fixed for four to six months trading at around $34,000. In the Atlantic, the main focus was from the US Gulf which saw increased fresh enquiry.

A 63,000-dwt fixed Delivery SW Pass trip to Egypt at $45,000. Elsewhere, a 55,000-dwt open West Africa was fixed via South Africa redelivery China at $28,750. Stronger demand in Asia helped rates. A 61,000-dwt fixed delivery Kosichang trip via Indonesia redelivery Cambodia at $32,000. Brokers said further north there had been an increased level of NoPac business. However, fixtures were kept under wraps. A rather flat week in the Indian Ocean, but a 56,000-dwt was fixed delivery Fujairah trip via Arabian Gulf redelivery Bangladesh at $38,000.

Handysize

It was a short week for many, but the BHSI made some positive gains after a period of negativity. Brokers spoke of more enquiry in East Coast South America in recent days. A 33,000-dwt fixed from Vitoria to East Coast Mexico at $35,000 and a 40,000-dwt was rumoured to have been placed on subjects for a trip from Recalada to Algeria at $40,000. In the US Gulf a 38,000-dwt was fixed from the US Gulf to Spain in the upper $20,000s.

In Asia, a 28,000-dwt open in North China was rumoured to have been placed on subjects for a trip to South East Asia with an intended cargo of steels at $21,000. A 35,000-dwt open in South East Asia fixed a trip to US West Coast in the Low $30,000s. Period was also active with a 28,000-dwt open in Japan in early May fixing four to six months at $25,000.