Small Handy
The small dry bulk market remained firm across intra-Asia, supported by steady demand for fertilizers, steel scrap, agricultural products, and industrial minerals. Freight levels held stable with 15,000 MT steel scrap from Jurong to Chittagong heard to be offered at USD low 30s pmt, fertilizer from Bayuquan to Pelintung at similar levels, 6,000 MT urea from Bintulu to South Korea around USD 20 pmt, and 7,000 MT palm kernel from Malaysia to South Korea at slightly better then mentioned urea. Longer-haul trades continued to command premiums, with 5,000 MT quicklime from Indonesia to India targeting USD mid 30s pmt, reflecting balanced tonnage and resilient owner sentiment.
Handysize
The handysize edged up again but barely, essentially flat at its high. It held the fresh ground taken this month, a firm Atlantic offset almost exactly by a softer Pacific, with momentum clearly fading at the top. The Atlantic carried what strength there was. The US Gulf and South Atlantic stayed tight, a very short tonnage list keeping charterers bidding up, and the Continent and Mediterranean held firm on scrap demand, though visible fixing stayed thin.
The Pacific was the drag, activity limited and sentiment flat across the region, the South East Asia and North Asia routes all easing even as healthy regional steel orders kept a floor under demand. A 38k open Singapore failed on an Indonesia-to-Far East coal trip. Dwt 28,000 were exchanged at around $10,000 for a trip from South East Asia to Far East.
Supramax
The dry bulk market continued to display firm sentiment across both the Pacific and Atlantic basins, with long-haul employment remaining the key earnings driver. Strong demand for West Africa business out of North Asia, coupled with healthy trans-Pacific activity from East Coast South America, kept rates well supported, while Indonesian coal business maintained steady momentum.
The North Asia market remained buoyant, particularly for long-haul voyages into West Africa. Several Ultramax fixtures were concluded in the mid-USD 20,000s, reinforcing owners’ confidence. The modern mv St Lucia (64,100 dwt, built 2026) fixed at $24,250 for a voyage to West Africa including HRA, while mv ML Swallow (63,592 dwt) secured $25,500 on similar business. Likewise, mv Amoy Century (61,438 dwt) obtained $25,000 a West Africa voyage with Mediterranean option, illustrating continued charterers’ appetite for long-haul employment.
Regional Pacific business remained comparatively stable. Darya Mira (61,087 dwt), delivering Zhoushan ex-drydock, fixed at $20,250 via NoPac with redelivery Singapore-Japan
The Atlantic basin also recorded healthy activity across multiple cargo sectors. Santa Angelina (58,099 dwt) secured $24,500 for a trip from Cadiz to India, while Handysize vessel Adastar (34,334 dwt) fixed at $24,000 from Santarem to Tunisia with a grain cargo.
Demand for breakbulk cargoes remained supportive, with mv Elim Bounce (61,616 dwt) fixing at $22,000 for a Caribbean voyage carrying steel products, bagged cargoes, vehicles and general cargo.
Best regards,
