- Small Handy
The mini bulk market this week displayed mixed sentiment, with freight rates varying significantly by cargo type and route. Fertilizer shipments from South China showed active movement, with a 12,000‑mt urea parcel fixed to KSC at around $12/mt. Scrap from Thailand to India was concluded at $27/mt, notably below current mid $30s owner offers. Smaller cargoes such as 5,000 mt MOP from Vietnam to the Java Sea traded in the mid‑high teens per ton, while 4,000–5,000 mt urea shipments between Singapore and Yangon were reportedly done at low teens. Charterers’ bids included $17.50/mt for a 10,000 mt sand cargo ex‑Vietnam to Japan and $22–23/mt for 7,700 mt WBP from Makassar to Hồng Hải. Notably, a 9,000 mt PTA cargo ex‑Kuantan to East Coast India drew ideas in the high $30s/mt, indicating strong sentiment for specialty chemical trades. Overall, while activity remained steady, freight levels were highly cargo‑specific and influenced by load/discharge flexibility. This aligns with current trends in global fertilizer logistics, where route, cargo type, and bunker costs continue to significantly shape freight dynamics.
2. Handysize
The Handy market displayed mixed activity this week, with regional dynamics shaping sentiment. In the Continent and Mediterranean, activity remained subdued with stable but quiet conditions, while in the U.S. Gulf activity picked up with several fixtures completed though rates stayed largely unchanged. In contrast, the South Atlantic remained quiet, characterized by limited activity and softer rate ideas. For example, the Seto Harmony (39,943 DWT, built 2020), open in Corpus Christi on 2 August, was placed on subjects for a voyage from SW Pass to the West Coast of the Americas at $17,000 per day by Pacnav, though further details were not provided. Similarly, Zante Dawn (34,146 DWT) was fixed for gypsum delivery from Safi with redelivery in ARAG at $13,000/day, per Lauritzen’s report, also with limited specifics. In Asia, market activity increased amid tighter tonnage availability in Southeast Asia and the North Pacific, prompting charterers to raise rate bids. The Link Amici (34,398 DWT, built 2015) was reportedly fixed from Lanshan via North China to Malaysia at $13,250/day by GEL, while the Poavosa Wisdom VIII (28,208 DWT) reportedly open in China secured a trip to East India spanning approximately 35–40 days at $15,500/day, although additional details were not disclosed.
Regional rates such as those seen from North China to Southeast Asia hovered around $13,250/day, while cross-basin routes like those from US Gulf to South America and Southeast Asia to China averaged $13,000–$13,500/day for Handy vessels, confirming solid fundamentals despite mixed clip tempo and limited fresh enquiry.
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Supramax
The Supramax market maintained positive fundamentals across key regions during the week. In the Atlantic, a 63,000 DWT vessel opening in the US Gulf was reportedly fixed at $20,500/day for a grain voyage to India, while a 64,000 DWT unit in the Continent was fixed at $13,000/day for a scrap trip via Turkey. These firmer rates reflect continued strength in Atlantic-East trades and shrinking available tonnage. n Asia, improving trends were evident with hiring levels on the rise. A 56,000 DWT vessel open in Bahodopi was heard fixed at $13,000/day for a clinker voyage to China. A 57,000 DWT vessel opening in Cam Pha reportedly achieved a rate of $16,500/day for a Bangladesh itinerary, while a 61,000 DWT vessel open in Thailand secured $12,000/day for a run to Cambodia—indicative of resilient Southeast Asian demand. In the broader China/Far East region, a 58,000 DWT vessel open at CJK reportedly closed at $13,000/day for a steel cargo to the Persian Gulf, and a 64,000 DWT unit in North China fixed at $16,000/day for a voyage to Africa. These reflect premium for longer haul steel trades from East Asia. On the Indian Ocean/Persian Gulf corridor, a 56,000 DWT vessel opening in Malé reportedly secured $17,000/day plus a $170,000 ballast bonus for an RBCT–Bin Qasim voyage. Another 62,000 DWT unit in Fujairah was fixed at $13,500/day on an aggregate trip to Bangladesh. Meanwhile, a 58,000 DWT vessel on India’s east coast was rated around $8,500/day for an ore trip to China, though many owners are opting to ballast to Singapore to seek more profitable positioning. Overall, the market is underpinned by strong Atlantic fundamentals and solid Asian demand—particularly in Southeast Asia and China—with tonnage tightening and active fixing helping sustain upward momentum
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