Small Handy
The mini drybulk market remained steady to firm across intra-Asia routes, supported by active movements of industrial materials, steel products, and agricultural cargoes. Wood pellets ex Indonesia to the Philippines fixed at high levels around USD 49 pmt, reflecting firm demand and tighter prompt tonnage, while steel pipe shipments ex Vietnam to the Philippines achieved around USD 20 pmt FIOST. Gypsum ex Thailand to Phu My held around low teens pmt, and sodium sulphate ex Bahodopi to Bangkok indicated stronger sentiment in the high USD 20s pmt range. Meanwhile, bagged sugar ex Thailand to Chittagong remained firm in the low USD 40s pmt, while coal ex Taboneo to Chan May was concluded around USD 18 pmt, overall suggesting a stable to firm mini bulker market sentiment.
Handysize
For handy segment, the Atlantic was the weak basin. The South Atlantic took the largest single day hit with the Recalada – Skaw backhaul leading the decline. Continent-Med was muted, rates tracking last done. The US Gulf was the firm pocket. Two older handies fixed SW Pass for UK-Continent and Puerto Quetza grain trips at $16,000, while a dwt 38,000 fixed Progreso to SW PASS/UK grains at $18,000-$19,000.
The Atlantic – Pacific spread is the structural story. The Pacific basin now trades several thousand dollars per day above the Atlantic, an inversion against the usual geared market shape. According to market report a dwt 37,000 fixed Kobe to South East Asia at $17,000s. Dwt 28,000 open Vietnam/Sing range also asking $11,000-$12,000 for a trip to north bound.
Supramax
The geared sector continues to present a clear two-speed market. The Atlantic remains positionally tight, with sentiment improving further on the back of firmer US Gulf fronthaul demand. In contrast, Asia stayed subdued as prompt tonnage continued to accumulate, particularly in the southern regions.
The headline timecharter average posted only a modest increase, but that headline number conceals an increasingly pronounced basin divergence beneath the surface. Atlantic-out routes generally strengthened across the board, supported by healthier cargo enquiry and improving fixing levels, while Pacific intra-basin activity softened further, with limited fresh demand and growing prompt vessel availability weighing on rates. The widening spread between Atlantic and Pacific earnings remains the key market signal to monitor in the near term.
Regarding fixtures, MV HTK Lavender (61k dwt / Samalaju, Malaysia) fixed at low 18s for an Indonesia–China coal voyage. MV Young Harmony (63k dwt / Kandla, India) fixed at USD 18,000 for a trip to Chittagong with aggregates. Meanwhile, MV Allis Serene (58k dwt / Goa, India) fixed at USD 18,250 for a voyage via West Coast India to Mombasa, Kenya. In addition, MV Agios Nikolas (57k dwt / Singapore) fixed at USD 18,250 for a trip via Indonesia to Thailand.
Best regards,
