- Small Handy
The mini-bulk segment demonstrated a distinctly mixed sentiment this week, with performance varying significantly across cargo types and routes. Scrap emerged as the strongest performer, exemplified by a 9,500-mt shipment from Jurong to Chittagong secured at rates in the very high $20s per ton, and a 12,000-mt movement from Thailand to India’s East Coast receiving similar pricing—both reflecting robust demand paired with scarce vessel supply in South Asia trade lanes. Clinker trades held steady; notably, a 9,000-mt shipment from Vietnam to Kuching was conducted at very high $10s per ton. In contrast, fertilizer demand softened, illustrated by a 15,000-mt MOP shipment from North Vietnam to North China fixed at close to $11 per ton amid ample vessel availability and low seasonal demand. Overall, the market has been buoyed by scrap traffic, maintained by clinker stability, but offset by softness in fertilizer trades, resulting in uneven sentiment by cargo type. - Handysize
The Handy segment delivered mixed performance this week, with stability in some regions and modest rate gains in others. In the Continent and Mediterranean, freight levels held steady or inched slightly above previous levels amid moderate activity, highlighted by a 38,000 DWT ship fixed in the Western Mediterranean for an inter-Med trip at $12,000/day. The U.S. Gulf remained firm, backed by steady enquiry and tightening tonnage, while the South Atlantic softened slightly due to lackluster demand. As reported, the vessel Bobic (31,896 DWT) was fixed from France to Turkey for scrap at $9,500/day by Norwegian Bulk Carriers, and a 32,000 DWT unit delivered in Houston reportedly secured a Brazil run at $9,000/day, though details remain limited. In Asia, despite limited fixture disclosures, the market tone remained resilient. A 38,000 DWT vessel open in Cigading was fixed for a steel trip to Portugal at $15,000/day, indicating that regional demand and rate support persisted. Overall, the Handy market displayed moderate upward momentum underpinned by firm U.S. Gulf fundamentals and selective strength in Asia, despite weaker activity in certain quarters
3. Supramax
Market sentiment in the supramax/ultramax segment improved this week, supported by stronger demand from the U.S. Gulf and firmer numbers in the Atlantic basin. In the Mediterranean, however, activity remained subdued due to a lack of fresh demand, while Asia continued to show promise with better inquiry levels from the north, though confirmed fixtures were still limited.
In the Atlantic, the Equinox Orenda (58,689 dwt, 2012) was fixed for a voyage from Cartagena to the East Mediterranean with grains at $26,000 for a minimum of 38 days. Meanwhile, the Red Sakura (60,245 dwt, 2017), open in the U.S. Gulf, was reportedly fixed for a fronthaul trip at $27,750, with some market sources suggesting the rate could have reached the upper $29,000s.
In the Pacific, the Josco Liuzhou (64,231 dwt, 2022) was said to be fixed from Port Elizabeth to China at $21,000 plus a $210,000 ballast bonus. The Xin Hai Tong 30 (56,582 dwt, 2013) was reported to have secured a trip via the Philippines with redelivery in China at rates in the low $17,000s, though details remain scarce. The Qi Hong (56,132 dwt, 2011) was fixed from Haikou in mid-August for a voyage via Vietnam to Bangladesh carrying clinker at $20,000, although some reports indicate the final agreed rate was $19,500.
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