- Small Handy
The small handy market in Southeast Asia remains largely unchanged from last week, with vessels ranging from 7,000 to 15,000 DWT aiming freight levels from low USD 10 pmt to low USD 20 pmt, depending on cargo and route. A 13,000 mt urea parcel from Sipitang to Thailan was reportedly traded at low USD 10 pmt. Meanwhile, 6,500 mt of wood bark pellets from Makassar to Vietnam was fixed at mid USD 20 pmt, although owners are still targeting rates in the low USD 30’s. A 15,000 mt fertilizer cargo ex Muara to KSC is also being discussed at low to mid USD 10 pmt. In China, the North China small bulk market is holding stable. A 5,500 mt cargo of ammonium from Tieshan to Ho Chi Minh saw charterers proposing rates in the low USD 10s, while owners are pushing for the high side. Vessels around 8,000 to 10,000 DWT are targeting low USD 10’s for shipments from South China to Southeast Asia. The India and Persian Gulf market remains relatively quiet, with limited confirmed fixtures. Tonnage between 15,000 and 17,000 DWT is aiming for rates ranging from high USD 5,000s for trip back to Pacific2. Handysize
Market activity tapered off toward the end of the week, with minimal fresh developments to influence sentiment. In the Continent–Mediterranean region, demand remained subdued, exerting downward pressure on freight rates. Similarly, the US Gulf market continued to face headwinds, with no clear signs of recovery and overall sentiment remaining weak. The Asian market presented a mixed picture; while there were some indications of interest in period coverage, no notable fixtures were reported or confirmed. By week’s end, the average rate for the 7 Time Charter routes stood at $9,975, reflecting a modest decline of $4 compared to the previous week. In the Pacific region, only limited general cargoes were seen in the Far East, with time charter rates hovering around USD 8,000 for 28,000 DWT vessels, while the India–Singapore range remained short on cargo availability.3. Supramax
The Supramax segment remained relatively steady during the second week of May, with balanced activity across both the Atlantic and Pacific regions. While the Atlantic market showed little change, stable demand helped maintain freight rates at decent levels, particularly on routes from the U.S. Gulf to the Far East. Meanwhile, the Pacific region continued to benefit from cargo flows out of Indonesia, Australia, and South Africa, which provided moderate support to the market despite a slower pace of fresh inquiries from Southeast Asia. Noteworthy fixtures included a Supramax fixed at approximately $15,000 per day for a trip from the U.S. Gulf to China, while another vessel was reportedly secured at around $13,500 per day for a voyage from China via Indonesia to East Coast India. Trips within the Pacific basin, such as China via Australia or North Pacific back to China, hovered near $10,500 per day, reflecting a stable yet cautious sentiment. Elsewhere, vessels trading from West Coast India via South Africa to China were heard fixed at about $12,500 daily. As of May 7th, the Baltic Supramax Index (BSI) settled at $9,545 per day, marking a relatively unchanged position compared to the previous week, with overall market tone remaining firm but lacking clear upward momentum.
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