Small Handy
Market overall looked steady to slightly firm, driven by active fertilizer and scrap demand. Fertilizer fixtures (12,000 mt S. China → Taiwan) trade in the high-20s/mt (around USD 27–28 pmt implied), showing stronger interest than earlier low-20s offers; smaller inter-island WBP trips (7.7k Makassar → Hongai) are being worked around the low-20s (charters targeting roughly 23 pmt), so short regional trips remain competitively priced but balanced. Scrap (9.6k Jurong → Chittagong) is the tightest cargo — ideas at USD 27–28 pmt and with vessel delays likely to push prompt rates toward the top of that range.
Handysize
The sector closed the day on a positive note, with sentiment staying firm across both the Atlantic and Asian regions. The BHSI added 8 points to reach 832, while the 7TC average advanced by $138 to settle at $14,972. In Europe, demand growth and a tighter supply of vessels helped sustain a strong outlook in the Continent and Mediterranean markets. In the South Atlantic, charterers showed greater willingness to bid as the tonnage list continued to narrow, pushing rates slightly higher. The U.S. Gulf also recorded gains, supported by more cargo opportunities and fewer prompt vessels, which contributed to better market balance. Although reports from Asia were limited, sentiment there remained steady. Shifts in the cargo-to-tonnage ratio did not disturb rate stability, allowing the region to maintain a firm footing. In the Pacific region, vessels with a deadweight of 28,000 – 32,000 DWT are being offered at rates ranging from USD 8,500 to 11,000 per day.
Supramax
The Supramax market maintained positive fundamentals across the Atlantic, a 63,000 dwt opening in the US Gulf was reportedly fixed at USD 33,500/day for a grain trip to India, while a 64,000 dwt in the Continent was fixed at USD 23,500/day for employment to Med. In Asia, improving sentiment was reflected in softer trendy due to coming Chinese holiday. A 56,000 dwt in Weda was rated at USD 17,500/day for nickel ore to China; another 57,000 dwt in Cam Pha fixed at USD 18,500/day for a trip to Bangladesh; and a 61,000 dwt in Thailand was secured at USD 13,000/day for a run to Cambodia. A 58,000 dwt open at CJK was reportedly fixed at USD 14,000/day for steel to the Persian Gulf, while a 64,000 dwt in North China fixed at USD 13,500/day for a voyage to Africa. On the Indian Ocean/Persian Gulf corridor, a 56,000 dwt in Malé secured USD 14,500/day plus a USD 140,000 ballast bonus for an RBCT–Bin Qasim trip. A 62,000 dwt in Fujairah was fixed at USD 15,500/day for a trip to Bangladesh, while a 58,000 dwt on India’s east coast was rated around USD 9,500/day for ore to China, prompting many owners to ballast toward Singapore in search of higher returns which at USD 14,000 for trip to China.
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