Small Handy
The Pacific market for small tonnages experienced a quiet week, with many vessels spotting due to a lack of cargo. Vessels around 10,000 dwt were rated around $4,000 DOP, while 13,000 dwt vessels were given $5,000-6,000 DOP for trips within the Pacific. East Coast India continued to offer no opportunities for small tonnages, forcing owners to ballast back to the Penang range after fixing. However, there was significant improvement in the fertilizer market, which brokers expect to be highly contested in the coming week.
Handysize
In the handy segment, brokers reported that the general upward trend from the Continent-Mediterranean remained, while downward pressure persisted from East Coast South America due to limited fresh activity and readily available prompt tonnage. It was rumored that a large handy fixed a trip from Recalada to West Coast South America in the low $20,000s, although further details were undisclosed. In North Coast South America, the Maas Confidence (34,914 dwt, 2016) was reported fixed for a coal run from Venezuela to the Continent at $16,000, open Puerto Limon on July 8.
In Asia, the market remained fairly balanced, with a steady stream of inquiries, though more fresh inquiries would be needed to see significant changes. According to market reports, a 28,000 dwt vessel, open Rio Tuba, fixed for an Indonesia coal round at $13,000. Further north, the Darling River (33,365 dwt, 2009), open Sakaiminato on June 25, fixed at $14,000 for a trip via South Korea to West Coast India with coils, but further details were not disclosed.
Supramax
The supramax segment last week remained stable with slightly stronger hire rates reported. A 52,000 dwt vessel was fixed for an Indonesian round, basis delivery South China in the mid $12,000s, though no further details were disclosed. Another supramax was fixed basis delivery Singapore for a trip via Indonesia with redelivery to CJK at $15,000, again with no additional information provided. The Clipper Barolo (58,444 dwt, 2011), open Mundra, was fixed for a trip to China with salt at $14,000, though some sources indicated the rate was closer to $14,250.
BY ASCENT BULK
