Small Handy
The small dry bulk market remains firm with a slightly positive bias, supported mainly by steady fertilizer demand across Asia. Recent fixtures show fertilizer cargoes achieving around the high USD 20s to mid-USD 30s pmt, while agricultural cargoes such as canola meal are also providing steady employment at around the low USD 20s pmt. Overall, enquiry remains healthy for smaller vessels, particularly on intra-Asia and Southeast Asian trades, with the market supported by consistent demand and the flexibility premium of small tonnage, although rates are likely to remain stable to moderately firm rather than see a sharp increase.
Handysize
For handy segment, the Continent and Mediterranean stayed quiet. Fresh demand did appear in the US Gulf and South Atlantic, though it moved rates only marginally. A dwt 40,000 handymax went on subjects loading pecem for the US Gulf with steels at $18,500 The index is carried by one Pacific leg and one South Atlantic leg while the Continent keeps subtracting. That is a narrow base and the Atlantic average fell again even as the headline rose. A market held up this way moves when one region finds cargo not when sentiment turns. The Continent is where the cargo is missing, and its recovery rather than anything in Asia is what decides the index from here. In South East Asia to Singapore – Japan index also rose and contributed more than the whole net gain on its own. Dwt 32,000-35,000 open north China were exchanged at around $16,000 for a trip to South East Asia.
Supramax
The Supramax/Ultramax market remained firm in the Pacific, supported by good demand for coal, clinker and nickel ore. Owners continued to achieve healthy rates, especially for prompt vessels in Southeast Asia. In Southeast Asia, MV Genco Magic (63,497 dwt, 2014) was fixed basis delivery Surabaya for a trip via Indonesia to Thailand at $22,000/day. MV Astro Sirius (63,562 dwt, 2019) was fixed basis delivery Kendari 21/22 August for a trip via East Coast Australia to Japan with coal at around $21,000/day. MV Mission Revival (57,763 dwt, 2017) was fixed basis delivery Kaohsiung for a trip via North Pacific to Singapore/Japan at $16,500/day. Other fixtures included MV Nami One (57,353 dwt, 2011), fixed basis delivery Bataan for a trip to Chittagong with clinker at $16,000/day, while MV Royal Image (55,975 dwt, 2008) was fixed basis delivery Singapore via Indonesia to Bangladesh at $20,000/day. The Indian Ocean market was quieter, with MV Fareast Harmony (56,756 dwt, 2012) fixed basis delivery Djibouti via Salalah to East Coast India at $15,250/day. MV EM Ruby (54,768 dwt, 2009) was also reported fixed basis delivery Yangjiang via the Philippines to China, with nickel ore as the intended cargo. One of the stronger fixtures was MV African Pheasant (63,000 dwt), reportedly fixed basis delivery Saragani 21/22 August to Bangladesh with coal at around $25,500/day. Overall, the Pacific market remained firm with good cargo demand and limited prompt tonnage. Rates were particularly strong for modern Ultramax vessels, while the Indian Ocean remained relatively quiet.
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