The Baltic Exchange, the world’s independent source of maritime market data, has issued its reports for the last week, 28 September – 4 October 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
- In the Middle East, we saw rates for 280,000mt to USG via the Cape/Cape routing continue to be assessed at around WS17.5, while 270,000mt to China shed a point to WS26.5 region.
- In the Atlantic, rates for 260,000mt West Africa to China also fell a point to WS31.5 level
Tankers – Suezmax
- Rates for 135,000mt Black Sea/Med again remain unmoved at WS45. In West Africa, owners were able to claw back 1.5 points to WS35 level for 130,000mt to the UKC.
- In the Middle East rates remain weak and 140,000mt Basrah/Med is assessed at a shade below WS16.
Tankers – Aframax
- The 80,000mt Ceyhan/Med market again managed to remain static at WS57.5 and the same sentiment was mirrored in the 80,000mt Cross-North Sea route where rates held at WS72.5-75 level.
- Rates for 100,000mt Baltic/UKC eased a point to WS41.25.
Tankers – Clean
- In the 75,000mt Middle East Gulf/Japan trade, rates have shown a modest tendency to firm. But at present the market is only nudging WS65, which is at least an improvement from the WS60 level of a week ago.
- The 30,000mt clean cross-Med trade continued its downward trajectory, starting the week in the high WS80s but presently sits at a paltry WS75.
Bulk carriers – Capesize
- Firm trading activity this week has pushed the Capesize 5TC up and over the $30000 level, reaching near new highs for the year.
- The Pacific basin, with China and Korea on public holidays, has been difficult to read with rates in flux. The Transpacific C10 has come under pressure from the other regions as it has begun to be increasingly discounted.
- The route soared $5935 today to $14,050 as charterers struggle to tempt tonnage their way. By taking these backhaul trades at this time of the year owners run the risk of mistiming the market for their next leg.
Bulk – Panamax
- In the Atlantic, trade from EC South America was sporadic and rates correlated somewhat by arrival windows with $14,900 +$490,000 and $14,750 +$475,000 concluded midweek delivery load port on 82,000-dwt tonnage.
- Elsewhere in the Atlantic, the US Gulf was relatively active and sourced well by ballasters from the Far East and committed tonnage.
Bulk – Ultramax/Supramax
- From the Atlantic, the Continent remained tight for prompt tonnage and rates remained strong, a 57,000-dwt fixing a scrap run from Amsterdam to Turkey in the upper $17,000s.
- The Mediterranean traded upwards with better demand for clinker runs to West Africa leading the way.
- A 55,000 open Douala fixing a trip via Mediterranean redelivery West Africa at around $20,500.
Bulk – Handysize
- A 32,000-dwt delivery Valencia was reportedly fixed for a grain trip via the Baltic to Algeria at $11,000.
- A 23,000-dwt delivery Canakkale in mid-October was fixed for a steel trip to Brazil at $9,500.
- A 38,000-dwt open Otranto was also fixed for a similar trip via the Black Sea to east coast South America at $12,000.
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.
See also:
- Baltic Exchange: Maritime market highlights 20-25 Sept
- Baltic Exchange: Maritime market highlights 14-18 Sept
- Baltic Exchange: Maritime market highlights 7-11 Sept
